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You work hard, pay your dues, and conscientiously participate in your union's governance. But are you taking advantage of all your employment rights and options? Did you know that you don't have to pay for your union's political, social, and ideological agendas if you disagree with them?
Knowing all of your options is essential to making informed decisions about the activities you finance with your union dues-activities which you may not support. This brochure will help you understand all of your rights, your responsibilities, and your workplace options as a teacher, as a union member, and as a professional.
You have important constitutional rights in a unionized or "agency shop" workplace, referred to here as Hudson rights, after the 1986 U. S. Supreme Court decision Chicago Teachers Local 1 v. Hudson. They are the law of the land, regardless of what appears in your bargaining agreement, your union constitution and bylaws, or what you might otherwise be told. As a public school teacher, you have the right to
Join or not join your workplace union. Membership in a school employees' union is optional; you can never legally be forced to join.
Resign your union membership. Some school employee unions, such as the Michigan Education Association, attempt to restrict member resignations using elaborate procedures or "window periods." These practices may be illegal (see the end of this brochure for a list of organizations to contact for advice should you encounter such obstacles).
Stop paying for the union's non-representation activities. Teachers who don't join the union or who resign their membership are only obligated to pay for the union's representation duties, such as bargaining, contract administration, and grievance processing. All other non-bargaining activities, including political, social, and ideological functions, are not legally chargeable to nonunion teachers who object to funding them.
Receive a full explanation of all union fees charged to you. Public-sector unions must provide nonmembers with an explanation of any fees charged and an independent accountant's verification of the fees.
Challenge your union's fee assessments. Nonunion teachers have the right to challenge the union's fee calculations before an impartial decision maker, to receive an explanation of the challenge procedure, and to have the disputed fees held in escrow until the challenge is resolved.
Object to funding your union on religious grounds. Teachers with religious beliefs preventing them from associating with a union are protected by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Religious objectors may have the right to redirect their entire union fee to a nonunion, nonreligious charity.
How do I exercise my Hudson rights and avoid paying for the union's non-workplace activities?
If you are a union member, you must first resign your membership and state your objection in writing (please see the sample resignation letter at the end of this brochure). Once you have resigned, the union must supply you with information that explains your new, reduced fee and how it was calculated. You must then inform the union whether you want to pay full dues or the reduced fee.
Don't I have to belong to a union to be protected by the Michigan Public Employment Relations Act?
No. All public employees, including teachers, are fully protected by Michigan's Public Employment Relations Act (PERA) regardless of union membership status.
What are the advantages and disadvantages to resigning my union membership?
As a nonunion bargaining unit member, you are not subject to union discipline or fines, you can limit your financial obligation to the union, and you are legally entitled to the same representation services as union members. (Unions may, however, fine former members for their pre-resignation conduct. To avoid union fines and penalties, you must resign prior to engaging in any conduct that violates the union's constitution or bylaws.) Likewise, you are entitled to all of the benefits the collective bargaining agreement affords you. You may, however, be denied member rights including the ability to attend union meetings, to ratify or reject collective bargaining agreements, to vote in union elections, and to receive union "members only" benefits.
Without union representation, can't my employer get away with all kinds of discrimination?
No. In addition to PERA, Michigan teachers are covered under several other federal and state statutes, including the Equal Pay Act, Age Discrimination Employment Act, the Michigan Teacher Tenure Act, and the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. These laws prohibit workplace age discrimination, racial discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, and sexual harassment. They also ensure that employees have full access to their personnel files.
As a nonunion member, will I lose my professional liability protection?
You may lose coverage under union-owned liability policies, but in almost every school district teachers are covered under the district's umbrella liability policy. Check with your school administration first and then, if necessary, consult your local insurance carriers or professional educator organizations such as the Association of American Educators (1-800-704-7799) for low-cost alternatives.
As a nonunion member, can I use payroll deductions to pay my union service fees?
Yes, nonmember teachers may authorize payroll deductions to pay for their compulsory union fees. Objecting nonmembers who authorize a payroll deduction should be careful to authorize only the deduction of the "reduced" service fee.
Do I have to follow the procedures outlined in the collective bargaining agreement to challenge a reduced fee calculation?
No. Your constitutional and statutory employment rights invalidate collective bargaining clauses and union procedures that do not comply with the law. The U. S. Supreme Court's decisions in Chicago Teachers Local 1 v. Hudson and ALPA v. Miller guarantee your constitutional right to have your objections honored in the forum of your choice and by an impartial decision maker rather than one chosen by the union.
What can I do if my union resignation is met with threats, intimidation, and blackballing tactics?
Exercising your constitutional right to object to the union agenda does not mean you forfeit benefits such as health care, pension, step increases, etc. Threats and discrimination in the workplace based upon your union affiliation or lack thereof are illegal-assistance is available from the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC).
The following four steps explain how you can reduce your union fees by becoming a nonunion employee, or what is sometimes called an "agency fee payer":
Draft a resignation letter like the one shown at right (handwritten letters are acceptable).
Make three copies of your signed letter, and mail the original by certified mail (with signature requested) to your union.
Mail one copy of your letter to your school district's superintendent.
Keep the other copy of your letter for your records.
Sample Resignation Letter
(Today's Date here)
Dear Sir or Madam:
This is to inform you that I resign my union membership, effective immediately upon receipt by the union or its agent. I also revoke any authorization for payroll deduction of membership dues and authorize only the deduction of those fees legally chargeable to objecting nonmembers under the First Amendment to the U. S. Constitution.
Furthermore, I object to the use of my dues money for any purposes other than those related to collective bargaining, contract administration, and grievance processing in my immediate bargaining unit, per the U. S. Supreme Court's decision in Abood v. Detroit Board of Education. Any fees unrelated to these financial core activities should be immediately deducted from my dues according to the procedures outlined by the U. S. Supreme Court in Chicago Teachers Local 1 v. Hudson and any other relevant cases.
I would like a full accounting of the reduced fee verified by an independent auditor and a reasonably prompt opportunity to challenge the fee calculation before an impartial decision-maker. I also insist that any disputed fees be placed in escrow pending a final determination of the appropriateness of any asserted charges.
Please provide me with an accounting as soon as possible. Until an accounting is provided to me, please escrow all of my dues that are not subject to an immediate rebate. Additionally, if there will be any delay in obtaining a full accounting, please advise me as to when this information will be forthcoming.
Note: Religious objectors should not use this letter to resign their union memberships. Contact the Mackinac Center for more information on how to file a religious objection, or for more information on any of the issues discussed in this brochure.


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Germany's Spies Have NSA Envy: Currently Working To Build Their Own Comprehensive Snooping System
from the it's-not-actually-a-competition deptOne unfortunate knock-on effect of the revelations about the extent of NSA information gathering seems to be that the spies in other countries are starting to feel under-informed by comparison. Of course, many of them already knew about what was going on: in addition to the British and the Dutch, there are now reports that Germany was also kept informed at the highest levels (original in German.) That would probably explain the revelation by the news magazine Der Spiegel that Germany has been trying to beef up its own snooping capabilities for a while:
Last year, [Germany's foreign intelligence agency] BND head Gerhard Schindler told the Confidential Committee of the German parliament, the Bundestag, about a secret program that, in his opinion, would make his agency a major international player. Schindler said the BND wanted to invest €100 million ($133 million) over the coming five years. The money is to finance up to 100 new jobs in the technical surveillance department, along with enhanced computing capacities.Small beer compared to the NSA, but it's a start. Der Spiegel's article provides some details on how they do it in Germany:
The largest traffic control takes place in Frankfurt, in a data processing center owned by the Association of the German Internet Industry. Via this hub, the largest in Europe, e-mails, phone calls, Skype conversations and text messages flow from regions that interest the BND like Russia and Eastern Europe, along with crisis areas like Somalia, countries in the Middle East, and states like Pakistan and Afghanistan.But the BND still has a long way to go before it attains NSA-like levels of snooping:
In contrast to the NSA, though, the German intelligence agency has been overwhelmed by this daunting wealth of information. Last year, it monitored just under 5 percent, roughly every 20th phone call, every 20th e-mail and every 20th Facebook exchange. In the year 2011, the BND used over 16,000 search words to fish in this data stream.As in the US, the idea is that this targets foreigners:
German law allows the BND to monitor any form of communication that has a foreign element, be it a mobile phone conversation, a Facebook chat or an exchange via AOL Messenger. For the purposes of "strategic communications surveillance," the foreign intelligence agency is allowed to copy and review 20 percent of this data traffic. There is even a regulation requiring German providers "to maintain a complete copy of the telecommunications."Here's how the BND tries to achieve that:
If e-mail addresses surface that end in ".de" (for Germany), they have to be erased. The international dialing code for Germany, 0049, and IP addresses that were apparently given to customers in Germany also pass through the net.Of course, as in the US, it doesn't quite work out like that:
At first glance, it's not evident where users live whose information is saved by Yahoo, Google or Apple. And how are the agencies supposed to spot a Taliban commander who has acquired an email address with German provider GMX? Meanwhile, the status of Facebook chats and conversations on Skype remains completely unclear.Given this evident desire to create its own snooping apparatus, coupled with the fact that Germany has doubtless benefited from NSA spying, perhaps it's no surprise the German government's protests about its citizens being subject to extensive NSA surveillance have been muted. Maybe a little too muted: Der Spiegel quotes the question posed by Cornelia Rogall-Grothe, a state secretary in the German Interior Ministry, to the US Embassy in Berlin, in the wake of the revelations about NSA spying:
"Are US agencies running a program or computer system with the name Prism?," the Interior Ministry official asked.Follow me @glynmoody on Twitter or identi.ca, and on Google+
Filed Under: germany, nsa, nsa surveillance, prism, snooping

subset: commoncrawl


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Flying into Scottsdale or Phoenix from the artic tundra that's taken over the Northern half of the United States and then some?
There is no better way to begin your defrost than to surround yourself with desert greenery -–cacti, succulents, wildflowers in winter mode and many a saguaro vista.
Open sky and desert flora—this is the Desert Botanical Garden. This is a recommended early stop for your visit to Scottsdale or Phoenix because it quickly establishes a Southwest feel for your trip.
Pay attention to the words of ecologist Forest Shreve posted in the garden, "…Arizonans are a desert people."
The Desert Botanical Garden includes over 50,000 plants of more than 2,600 different types from the world's deserts set on 145 acres at the foot of Picket Post Mountain.
Whatever time of year you arrive, it is lush.
You may be able to spot a hummingbird at work extracting food from succulent plant flowers. You will see many a lovely dove and bees atop cacti flowers.
A scurry sound here or there in the background tells you there are even more critters having a feast.
There are four winding trails—Desert Discovery Loop Trail; Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert Loop Trail; Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail; and the Center for Desert Living Trail. Each of these trails is lined with educational factoid signposts.
As botanical gardens go, this one is superlative in making a vast knowledgebase very easy to digest. Without strain your learn a lot in a short timeframe on the diversity of desert flora, and the food and medicines which they spawn.
If your itinerary allows, make a note that there are many benches throughout the garden that seem to be very welcoming perches to finish reading that great novel.
There are more than 400,00 visitors to the Desert Botanical Garden each year. The biodiversity and stunning flora you will find in winter will probably make you curious about what other seasons are like.
Indeed, it is possible to make a return in the evening hours of summer and have the feeling that you are enjoying the entire garden all by yourself.
From February 7 through late June there are also weekly concerts every Friday night, ranging from Blues to Latin Jazz to Brazilian sound and more. Other special events include wine pairings with desert walks and Shakespeare.
For fans of Dale Chihuly artworks in glass, there are numerous Chihuly sculptures in the garden now through May 18.
For more information on the Desert Botanical Gardens and a complete list of their upcoming events visit the Desert Botanical Garden website.
Desert Botanical Garden
1201 North Galvin Parkway
Phoenix, Arizona 85008
480 – 941 - 8115
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Photos by Cindy McDaniel courtesy of Desert Botanical Garden, unless otherwise indicated


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- 4 Beds
- 3 Full, 1 Half Baths
Property TypeResidential – Townhome
SubdivisionUNION CREEK TOWNHOMES
Listing Date01/12/20
Year Built2000
AreaCopper Mountain
Property Description
Phenomenal 4brm town home with South facing views of the National Forest, W. Ten Mile Creek & the ski slopes of Copper. Ski-in/walk out to NEW American Eagle/Flyer or Woodward express/Kokomo express quad chair lifts. Home features include in-floor radiant heating, 4 exterior patio/deck spaces, 2 car garage & ample storage for all your mountain gear. Building exterior recently replaced roof shingles & has a fresh coat of stain. Never been rented. Offered fully furnished.
Presented By
- Stream/Creek
- Ski In /Ski Out
- Mountain(s)
- River
- Ski Area
- Southern Exposure
- Creek/Stream
- Trees/Woods
- Golf
- Trails/Paths
- Fireplace
- Jetted Tub
- Cable Available
- Electricity Available
- Natural Gas Available
- Municipal Utilities
- Sewer Available
- Water Available
- Sewer Connected
- Radiant
Financial Information
3 Beds 3 Baths
3 Beds 3 Baths
3 Beds 3 Baths
1 Bed 1 Bath
3 Beds 3 Baths
We get asked this question a lot. Below is a tool that gives you the ability to see what the market is like in your community. Find out what homes like your own are selling for right in your back yard. Simply enter in your address, choose the proximity of the search and find out market data for other homes that are selling near you.
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Until then, enjoy the tools!
The data relating to the real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Vail Multi-List Service, Inc.
Copyright © 2020 Vail Multi List, Inc. (VMLS). The information displayed herein was derived from sources believed to be accurate, but has not been verified by VMLS. Buyers are cautioned to verify all information to their own satisfaction. This information is exclusively for viewers' personal, non- commercial use. Any republication or reproduction of the information herein without the express permission of the VMLS is strictly prohibited.
Listing courtesy of Real Estate At Copper Mountain


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"Justified" creator Graham Yost was in a terrible pickle when it came time to work on Season 3 of his critically acclaimed series: What do you do when you've killed off one the greatest baddies ever?
You find not one, but two major villains to trouble the ever-so-cool U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant). Oh, make that three; Raylan's nemesis/friend Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) hasn't left the Kentucy backwoods.
Boyd is making a play for the Harlan County marijuana trade that was once run by Mags Bennett (Emmy-winner Margo Martindale) and the wider drug business, but he's not the only one. A carpetbagger from Detroit named Quarles (Neal McDonough) has his eye on the whole of eastern Kentucky, which is sure to bring him into conflict with both Raylan and Boyd. Plus, a mysterious man named Limehouse (Mykelti Williamson) from Noble's Holler owes a favor to Mags, so he's watching her son, Dickie's (Jeremy Davies), back.
To say Raylan's sitting on a powder keg would be underselling it the new season (
9 p.m. Jan. 17, FX; 4 stars
). Based on a novella by Elmore Leonard, "Justified" continues to explode with superb writing, complex characters and rich acting.
Even without Mags, "Justified" drags us once again into the murky morality of the people of Harlan County.


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Download Sonar Senghor & His Troupe's African Tribal Music & Dances
Utterly amazing African music by a Troupe formed in France. Senghor was a law student in Paris when he told his father he was going to stop studying to be an actor, which led to him being disowned. He ended up meeting another African student in Paris and they decided to bring the native dances & songs of Africa to Paris. Strange way to go about it but clearly it was at least semi-successful as I now hold their creations in my hands. Very traditional stuff here but African rhythms and vocals are some of my faves, so this is worth its weight in gold.
Not totally sure if this is from 1957. There are at least 3 or 4 versions of this, it was originally recoded in 1952, Esoteric changed its name to Counterpoint in '57 (I think), and this release has both Counterpoint & Esoteric names/logos, so it seems like a decent justification to me.


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Last week at MPF, IBM unveiled some fresh details of its forthcoming POWER6 server microarchitecture. The company has been fairly stingy with POWER6 information, and most of what was released last week involved the system level. Nonetheless, there were a few interesting tidbits for those of us who are into microprocessors.
David Kanter at RWT has the most complete technical rundown of what was announced, starting with the brand new inter- and intra-MCM interconnect scheme. The chip sockets are now fully connected, which translates into lower latency and the ability to bring one multi-chip module (MCM) off-line without affecting the others.
POWER6 will also be dual-core, like its predecessors. So those who were hoping to see a four-core POWER6 will be disappointed. Instead of increasing the number of cores per die, IBM did something that no one would've thought possible in this post-"power wall" age: they doubled the processor's clock frequency, and they did so without increasing the power dissipation. But more on that in a moment.
From what David could surmise, it appears that the POWER6 microarchitecture is firmly in the same lineage as the PowerPC 970. Previously, the conventional wisdom had been that IBM was moving POWER6 in the same direction as Cell's PPE, i.e., a deeper pipeline, less out-of-order logic, and fewer execution units. This is apparently not the case, however, since the POWER6 pipeline was not deepened.
If the pipeline wasn't deepened, then how did IBM double the clockspeed? The short answer is, nobody knows exactly. IBM has touted some improved circuit designs that might've enabled them to increase clockspeeds dramatically without suffering a concomitant increase in power dissipation. There's also some speculation that the company moved away from its heavily automated approach to circuit layout for POWER6, and instead did some heavy hand-tuning for the design. Ultimately, the dramatic clockspeed/watt improvement over POWER5 is probably the cumulative result of a number of contributing factors.
Also of interest are the improvements in the back end of POWER6. Most importantly, one of the most annoying features of the POWER4/POWER5/970 family—the two-cycle latency for dependent integer instructions—has been removed from POWER6. POWER6 was previously rumored to include VMX (a.k.a. AltiVec) support, and this turns out to be true. The implementation may turn out to be similar to what is found on the 970, since the 970 and POWER6 seem to share much DNA.
At any rate, the big news for me in all of this is that the POWER4/970 lineage is probably not dead. My book has a whole chapter dedicated to the 970, and it feels good to know that the information in this chapter will remain relevant for more than just historical purposes.
Ultimately, IBM hopes that POWER6's advances, and they appear to be considerable, will help stave off commodity x86's encroachment into high-performance computing. Right now, the name of the game is bandwidth, and that's something that POWER6 has in spades. But Intel is working on some of the system architecture issues that hinder x86 as it tries to move up-market—I'm thinking specifically of the recent news that they're opening up their server-oriented I/O Acceleration Technology (I/OAT)—and of course AMD/ATI has its sights on leveraging coherent HyperTransport and coprocessors to take more HPC turf. One wonders how the Top 500 Supercomputer List will look a year or two after POWER6 has hit the streets.


text: Pandora App for Pokki - Version 3 Pandora is a free, personalized music radio player for your Windows PC.Discover new music and enjoy old favorites, right from your desktop with this free app. Start with your favorite artist, song or composer and Pandora will create a custom station that plays similar tracks. Already a Pandora listener? Even easier. Just log in. Pandora desktop app for Pokki is fully integrated with Pandora on the web. This Pandora desktop app is made possible by Pokki, free software that brings a modern app experience for hundreds of free apps and games to your Windows PC.Features:* Comment and thumb-up artists, songs, or stations for all of your connections to see.* Add favorites directly to your stations or use new features to mix-up your current music.* Get closer to the music you love by exploring song lyrics and artist biographies.


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Bamboo Plants
- How to Take Bamboo Cuttings
- How Long Does It Take for a Bamboo Seed to Grow?
- How to Care for Indoor Bamboo Plants in Water
- How to Feed Bamboo Plants
- Growing Lotus Bamboo Indoors
- How to Kill Bamboo Cane Growing in Your Back Yard
- Potted Bamboo Plant Care
- How to Grow Japanese Bamboo Plants
- Things You Can Build with Bamboo
- Where Does the Bamboo Plant Come From?
- How to Grow Bamboo
- How to Plant Bamboo Outside
- How to Grow Golden Bamboo in Pots
- Growing Bamboo in Missouri
- How to Cut Down Bamboo Plants
- How Much Can Bamboo Grow in a Day?
- How to Kill Wild Outdoor Bamboo Plants
- How to Take Care of Bamboo Sticks
- How to Make a Bamboo Picture Frame
- How to Grow Bamboo in the Shade
- Is Bamboo Wood or Grass?
- How to Start Another Bamboo Plant From Existing Plant
- How to Stop Spreading Bamboo
- Green Plant Food for Bamboo
- How to Propagate Bamboo
- How to Trim Bamboo Plants
- Bamboo Plant Support
- How to Kill a Bamboo Plant
- What Is the Best Potting Soil for Bamboo?
- How to Plant Bamboo Outdoors
- How to Cut Bamboo Stalks
How to Take Bamboo Cuttings
Bamboo plants are easy to propagate from cuttings. They root quickly in soil and water. Even though these plants are hearty and grow quickly, they aren't immune to pruning errors. With a few simple tips, you'll be able to transition your existing bamboo into a new generation of plants.
- Bamboo plants are easy to propagate from cuttings.
- Even though these plants are hearty and grow quickly, they aren't immune to pruning errors.
Examine the stalk. The stalk is where you will take your cutting. Chose a stalk that looks healthy and shows no signs of yellowing or spindly growth. The stalk should be large enough to lose a 4-inch cutting without sacrificing more than one-third of it's height.
Locate your bamboo plant's node. The node can be located in two ways. The easiest way to is find the rings that encircle the stem. Just above one of these rings is where you will take your cutting. The other way to locate the node is to mark the place just above the stems where leaves emerge from the stalk.
Use the right equipment. You want sharp, clean pruning shears. Jagged edges or dirty instruments can damage the plant or introduce bacteria to the freshly cut stalk. This is essential to the health of your plant and the success of your cutting.
Position your pruning shears so they surround the stalk at an area just slightly above a node. Clip the stalk with one quick motion and collect your cutting.
Dip the bottom end of your cutting in powdered or liquid rooting hormone. This is optional, but it encourages your cutting to throw off roots more quickly, giving the plant a better chance of developing into a plant of its own.
Plant your cutting. You can grow bamboo in water or soil.
How Long Does It Take for a Bamboo Seed to Grow?
Bamboo seeds germinate in 14 to 28 days. Seedlings grow to a height of 4 inches or more in the first month.
How to Care for Indoor Bamboo Plants in Water
Put the bamboo where it will be in bright, but indirect light. Although the bamboo plant will grow in shade, it will do better with a few hours of light each day. Avoid putting the bamboo plant on a windowsill, or in hot afternoon sun. Regular room temperatures will be fine for the bamboo plant.
Change the water in the bamboo's container at least once every week, using bottled water, and keep the water at approximately the same level. If you use tap water, let the water sit out overnight so additives such as fluoride and chlorine have time to evaporate. Over time, a buildup of these chemicals can damage the bamboo plant.
Add a drop of liquid houseplant fertilizer to the water once every other month. The bamboo will grow well even without fertilizer, so if you occasionally forget, the plant won't be adversely affected.
How to Feed Bamboo Plants
Feed your bamboo plants a lawn fertilizer high in nitrogen with a formula of 21-5-6. A time-release palm and ornamental fertilizer with a 13-3-13 formula also will work.
Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of compost or aged manure around the base of your bamboo for a more natural source of bamboo food. Mulch is beneficial to the growth of bamboo plants and helps them retain moisture.
Feed your bamboo plants with water from a fish tank or fish pond. The waste in fish-tank or pond water is natural food for the bamboo. Similarly, add a few drops of aquarium plant food to your bamboo plants' water once a month.
Do not put fresh manure on your bamboo plants as it could burn their roots. Too much nitrogen can be dangerous for young plants; opt for frequent but small feedings to avoid damaging young plants.
Growing Lotus Bamboo Indoors
Place your lotus bamboo in partial, dappled sunlight. Maintain air temperatures around the lotus bamboo plant of 65 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Keep the water level in the lotus bamboo pot or vase at no more than 1 ½ to 2 inches. Replace the water once every week, using non-fluoridated distilled water.
Don't add more than 2 inches of water to prevent the canes from rotting.
Feed your lotus bamboo a high-nitrogen liquid fertilizer once every two weeks during the spring and summer. Apply the fertilizer when you're replacing the water and follow the fertilizer directions on the label.
Prune your lotus bamboo in the fall and winter to remove all the dead leaves with sharp scissors.
Thin the stems in the winter, removing about one-third of them with pruning shears. In early spring or late winter, before new growth emerges, cut back the stems by one-quarter or one-third of their height.
When you first purchase a lotus bamboo plant that's not in water but wrapped in a packing sleeve, place the entire plant into a bowl of lukewarm water for two to three hours. This will help to rehydrate the lotus bamboo.
How to Kill Bamboo Cane Growing in Your Back Yard
Dig up bamboo using a shovel, garden hoe and mattock. This process is known as grubbing out a plant.
Dig out any remaining roots with a garden rake.
Watch for any emerging bamboo that will spring up from roots that you may have missed.
Treat bamboo shoots with a broad spectrum herbicide containing glyphosate. Do not delay treating young shoots. The older shoots become, the more resistant they grow toward herbicidal treatments. Pour boiling water over new shoots to kill them for a more organic method than herbicide.
Wait for young shoots to die and turn brown. Dig up the dead shoots and rhizomes.
Mow any remaining new shoots down to the ground using the lowest setting on your mower. Mow over bamboo patches once weekly, as often as you mow your lawn.
Bamboo is a very persistent plant. Expect to spend two to three years treating bamboo patches before you completely kill them. Bamboo may continue to spread if your patch is being fed from a thriving patch on a nearby neighbor's lawn.
To halt the invasion of bamboo from neighboring yards, install a metal or concrete barrier that is at least 2 feet deep and comes up 6 inches from the ground. You should inspect the barrier monthly to ensure that bamboo runners have not crept over the top. Remove any runners with a shovel and mattock.
Wear protective clothing and breathing protection when working with herbicides. Take a shower immediately after handling them.
Potted Bamboo Plant Care
Pot your bamboo in rich soil. Potted bamboo plants require nutrient-dense potting soil and grow best in a slightly acidic environment. Be sure the soil drains well and place a layer of rocks on the bottom of the pot for additional drainage if needed.
Water regularly. Bamboo plants are water-hungry and should be watered as soon as the topsoil becomes dry. Take care not to leave the plant in standing water.
Mist your plant daily. Bamboo flourishes in humid environments and enjoys water spray. Use a spray bottle to lightly mist your plant and encourage new growth.
Place in full sun. Bamboo plants need lots of sun to be healthy but can tolerate partial shade. Choose a sunny location to keep your bamboo plant in and adjust the location if needed.
Remove dead or yellow leaves. Regularly inspect your plant for dying or dead leaves and pinch them off at the base of the stem.
If bamboo leaves begin to curl, the plant likely needs more water. If they turn yellow, your bamboo may be getting too much sun.
Add mulch to allow roots to grow right up to the top of the soil.
How to Grow Japanese Bamboo Plants
Find a suitable location for the Japanese bamboo that has average or slightly acidic soil with full sun, although Japanese maple is shade-tolerant and able to adapt to other conditions.
Plant the seeds under a thin layer of soil in early spring after the last frost or bury a segment of root about 4 inches underground.
Water the Japanese knotweed regularly, keeping the soil moist but not wet. The plant is somewhat drought resistant but prefers wetlands and other places with abundant water.
Allow the Japanese bamboo to die off at the end of the year. It will naturally spread and regrow with the next growing season.
Purchase a domesticated cultivar of Japanese bamboo. The wild versions are extremely difficult to control, but domestic cultivars are somewhat more manageable because they form clumps and do not spread as far or as rapidly.
Grow the plants in containers if you wish to control their growth.
Things You Can Build with Bamboo
Recreation Items
One of the simplest items that can be made from bamboo is the simple fishing rod. Bamboo can also be found in sailing boats, sailing rafts, and skateboards. Presently bamboo is being explored as a lightweight material for bicycle frames and trailers.
Building Materials
- Bamboo poles have been used as framing materials in the tropics for years.
- Presently it is being explored as a strength builder for composite materials.
Bamboo poles have been used as framing materials in the tropics for years. It can now be found as flooring. Presently it is being explored as a strength builder for composite materials. Epoxy is mixed with short bamboo fibers and poured into the shape of the needed material.
Musical Instruments
Musical instruments that can be made of bamboo include digeridos, pipe organs, flutes, panpipes, rainsticks and windchimes.
Landscaping Uses
Bamboo in the landscape can create a living fence. Traditional fencing can be made from bamboo poles tied together.
Bamboo Furniture
There does not exist any type of furniture that can not be made from bamboo. This includes tables, chairs, beds and even desks.
Where Does the Bamboo Plant Come From?
Bamboos number 1,200 species, placed into 90 similar groups called genera (singular genus). Members of the grass family, they range from tall timber-like plants to short ground covers.
Bamboos grow in both temperate and tropical regions of the globe, from 50 degree North latitude to 47 degrees South latitude. Clumping tropical bamboos are in stark contrast to the running, invasive-rooting types more commonly native to temperate regions. There is a bamboo species adapted from coastal lowland to mountainous habitats.
The Asia-Pacific, which includes Australia, is home to roughly 800 bamboo species. In China alone there are 400 native species.
The Americas
North and South America combined contain about 500 species of bamboos, and demonstrate the greatest diversity in bamboo native habitats.
Many bamboo native to the Asia/Pacific region also occur in the tropical areas of Africa. There are 10 species on the African mainland, while the island of Madagascar is home to 11 native bamboo species.
Although no species of bamboo extant today are indigenous to Europe, it is worth noting that bamboo is speculated by some paleobotanists to have grown in Europe until the last Ice Age.
How to Grow Bamboo
How to Plant Bamboo Outside
Decide which bamboo variety you want to plant outside in your landscape. There are over 1,200 different varieties, so find one that works best for your region and climate. Keep in mind that there are varieties that favor climates that range from arid to below 0 degrees F.
Plant the bamboo outside once it is above 40 degrees. Make sure the area where you are planting it is prepared properly, whether in the ground or a planter box,. It needs to have well-drained, good quality soil that is able to stay consistently moist.
Dig a hole that is as deep as the bamboo's container using a shovel. Make the hole twice as wide for the rapid growth the bamboo will bring. Place the bamboo plant into the hole after removing it from the container. Space bamboo plants at least four feet apart. Backfill the holes with soil and mulch.
Water the bamboo deeply after planting and filling up the hole. Water the bamboo plant consistently to keep the soil moist but not in puddles.
How to Grow Golden Bamboo in Pots
Grow your golden bamboo in a wood container or unglazed terra-cotta pot measuring at least 24 inches deep and wide. Unglazed pots are more porous and will help insulate the bamboo roots from heat, according to Austin Community College's biology department.
Place the pot on an impenetrable surface, such as concrete or a deck. Check the bottom of the pot periodically to make sure the roots aren't blocking the drainage holes or otherwise escaping.
Place a 1- to 2-inch layer of mulch on the soil around the base of the bamboo. This will help keep the soil cool on hot days.
Water the golden bamboo three times a week during the summer. If temperatures are over 90 degrees, you may need to water five days a week. Keep an eye on the moisture content of the soil, and if it appears to be drying quickly, give the bamboo some water.
Fertilize the golden bamboo once a month with a 17-6-2 slow-release fertilizer. Follow the label directions for dosage. Water after fertilizing.
Growing Bamboo in Missouri
Till the soil, removing all weeds, and amend it with garden compost so that it is loose and drains well.
Dig a hole larger than the young bamboo plant's container. Carefully remove the plant from the pot, place it in the hole and cover with compost. Water thoroughly.
Water the young plants in their first year so that the soil around them is moist but not sodden. Put mulch around the base of the plant to increase water retention.
Support the growing bamboo with garden canes, attaching the plants to the canes with twine. Tie the twine loosely so that the plant has plenty of room to grow.
Feed the bamboo with a general purpose fertilizer during the growing season, following the manufacturer's instructions.
How to Cut Down Bamboo Plants
Determine the stalks you want to cut. Clumps of bamboo are usually one single plant connected underground. You will need to separate what you want to cut from what you want to let grow. Dead or dying stalks should also be removed.
Notice the diameter of the stalks you wish to cut. Stalks less than 3 inches in diameter can be cut using a hand saw or heavy lopper. Anything larger requires a chainsaw.
Find the lowest node on the stalk you wish to cut. This is a horizontal ring located every few inches on each bamboo stalk. The lowest node will depend on the height you want your bamboo plant to be after cutting.
Use your saw to cut down the bamboo plant. Cut just above the lowest node with slow, repetitive movements so as not to crack or splinter the wood.
Repeat until each stalk is cut down. If using a chainsaw, you can cut multiple stalks at once if they are located close together.
How Much Can Bamboo Grow in a Day?
Bamboo grows anywhere from one foot to over three feet per day, depending on the climate and growing conditions.
How to Kill Wild Outdoor Bamboo Plants
One technique is to dig out the bamboo with a spade, making sure to remove any underground rhizomes, as these will sprout into new plants if they're left in the ground. The Alabama Cooperative Extension says this method is ideal only for small stands of bamboo.
For larger stands, cut the bamboo down. Texas A&M University recommends waiting for the plant to grow approximately 2 feet tall, then trimming it to the ground. Repeat until the plant dies. The university reports that repeated cutting will starve the bamboo's underground food reserves and kill even well-established groves.
Another alternative is to spray the bamboo with herbicides. This is ideal for those who want a faster method of bamboo eradication that doesn't require repetitive physical labor. The only effective herbicide treatment for killing bamboo is spraying diclobenil in the winter and glyphosate in the summer, according to North Carolina State University. The former helps kill the bamboo's underground rhizomes, while the latter keeps any surviving rhizomes from regrowing.
Don't use an ax to chop down the bamboo. This causes sharp splinters that can be dangerous. Instead, use pruning shears for thin bamboo canes and a saw for larger ones.
How to Take Care of Bamboo Sticks
Arrange your bamboo sticks in the middle of a bowl or vase. Place about 2 to 3 inches of river rocks at the bottom to anchor the sticks. Wrap small gardening wire around the arrangement to hold it in place. It should be tight, but not tight enough to cut the bamboo. Fill your bowl or vase with water to cover the rocks. Tap water will suffice as long as it's drinkable. If not, use filtered or spring water.
Keep your bamboo sticks in water at all times. If you use a clear bowl or vase, you'll be able to tell when the water is low.
Change your water weekly. This helps keep the water clean.
Keep the bamboo sticks out of direct sunlight. A small amount of indirect light is fine, but direct sunlight will cause yellowing leaves and eventually kill the plant.
Pluck off yellow leaves when you first notice them. Use your fingers to do this rather than scissors or clippers.
How to Make a Bamboo Picture Frame
Measure the desired picture size in the center of the clear plastic sheet and mark out the space with a permanent marker.
Measure, mark and cut the bamboo stems to fit around the sides of the frame. The bamboo should be formed to fit vertically around the entire frame.
Apply silicone sealant outside of the marked area on the plastic sheet.
Place the bamboo stems around the frame and press them firmly into the sealant.
Paste the correct size of matting to the back of the picture frame to give the frame a finished appearance.
Miter-cut two bamboo pieces and glue them to the back of the matting as the back stand.
How to Grow Bamboo in the Shade
Choose a variety of bamboo to grow best in the setting where you will grow them. With such a large variety to choose from, you will find an ideal bamboo for your climate and yard size.
Dig up and loosen the soil in the ground area where you will grow your bamboo. Since the bamboo will be grown in the shade, make sure there are tall trees around the area to block the sun. Bamboo is a shade tolerant plant.
Make sure the soil is rich and well draining. Remove all weeds and other plant life. Dig a hole, and then fill it in with the prepared soil.
Plant the bamboo root system, or rhizomes, two inches deep in the prepared soil. Do not over water your newly planted bamboo. They do not like wet soil. Let the soil dry out between waterings.
Place a store-bought bag of mulch, which can be found at any garden store, around the bamboo plants. As the bamboo is growing, if you notice any insect problems, treat the plant with a chemical insect repellent.
Is Bamboo Wood or Grass?
Bamboo is a grass not a wood, even though it is very popular in flooring. It reaches maturity in only three years, which makes it a renewable resource.
How to Start Another Bamboo Plant From Existing Plant
Cut the bamboo canes back to 2 feet to make them easier to maneuver.
Dig around the existing bamboo plant 4 to 5 feet in diameter and 2 feet in depth. Loosen the soil until you have a good view of the rhizomes.
Choose a rhizome that is yellow with one or two culms attached to it. Cut off the rhizome from the mother plant at the neck using a sharp knife.
Wrap the bamboo rhizome in a damp burlap sack. Plant it immediately in a well-drained pot filled with potting soil or in your yard. If planting in your yard, make sure the soil is drains well and the bamboo has access to full sun. Plant the bamboo as deep as the rhizome.
Water the bamboo for five minutes and place mulch over the soil around the base of the plant. Keep the soil around the bamboo moist for one to two months until it is established.
Take bamboo cuttings from February to April.
Do not take rhizomes that are red, brown or black. These rhizomes are diseased and will not start healthy new bamboo plants.
How to Stop Spreading Bamboo
Stop the Spread
- Focus on the bamboo that you want to keep in your yard.
- Trim and maintain the bamboo to keep it from growing out of the barrier.
Focus on the bamboo that you want to keep in your yard. This will most likely be the original grove you planted. Dig down about two feet into the soil around the bamboo, creating a circular trench around it.
Put in a plastic or metal barrier into the trench. It does not have to stick out too high. A few feet will do. This will keep the bamboo's rhizomes from spreading and growing new plants elsewhere.
Trim and maintain the bamboo to keep it from growing out of the barrier. Any bamboo shoots that grow too close to it should be removed.
Using Herbicide
- Cut the bamboo shoots to a height of 6 inches using your garden shears.
- You want to allow the sap that appears to soak up the herbicide, but the sap will quickly retreat into the bamboo shoots after you cut them.
Cut the bamboo shoots to a height of 6 inches using your garden shears.
Apply the herbicide quickly to the shoots. You want to allow the sap that appears to soak up the herbicide, but the sap will quickly retreat into the bamboo shoots after you cut them. This will allow the herbicide to kill the roots of the plant.
Pull out whatever dead bamboo shoots are there after the herbicide does its work.
Cook the Rest
- Cut down the shoots that have grown back to not more than a few inches.
- Remove it after a few weeks, when the bamboo should be overheated and killed at the roots.
Cut down the shoots that have grown back to not more than a few inches.
Cover the shoots with fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. Make sure the shoots are completely covered by it.
Cover everything with a plastic sheet. Remove it after a few weeks, when the bamboo should be overheated and killed at the roots. Then you can dig up what's left to prevent future growth.
Green Plant Food for Bamboo
Growing Needs
According to Quindembo Bamboo Nursery, 90 percent of bamboo's appearance depends on having adequate moisture. Indoor bamboo also needs consistent, generous feedings with quick-release fertilizer that provides nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous.
Green Green Plant Food
Green Green Plant Food is a liquid bamboo fertilizer designed specifically for lucky bamboo. The fertilizer contains acid, nitrogen, phosphate, potash, potassium and calcium phosphates for leaf color and healthy growth.
Symptoms that indoor bamboo requires additional nutrition like Green Green Plant Food include yellowing of leaves and stalks, leaf die back and stem rotting. Although indoor bamboo can survive in water alone, it doesn't have the nutrition necessary for ultimate new growth.
The Lucky Bamboo Shop suggests adding three to four drops of Green Green Plant Food every time you water. The site also suggests pre-mixing Green Green Plant Food with water.
Green Green Plant Food is not safe for people and should always sit out of reach of children. Don't put indoor bamboo in direct sunlight or outside, as these conditions will burn the plant. Too much plant food and fertilizer will also burn the plant.
How to Propagate Bamboo
How to Trim Bamboo Plants
Bamboo Plant Support
Vining Bamboo Support
Running bamboo spreads quickly, and grows without the strong, tall stalks of clumping bamboo. This type of bamboo is flexible and puts out long shoots that often require a trellis, wall or arbor for structural support.
All bamboo plants require nutritional and foundational support at planting. Bamboo requires good drainage and nutrition, and does best in quick-draining soil and rich organic compost. It's important that bamboo rhizomes, or bulbs, be packed in without any air pockets around them at planting.
Bamboo requires moist, supportive soil with good drainage at all times, and will rot if it's left in standing water. According to Quindembo Bamboo, 98 percent of a bamboo plant's success depends on watering and moisture. Quindembo recommends 40 inches of water a year for full bamboo support, divided into weekly waterings to supplement natural rainfall.
Bamboo needs good nutritional support to thrive and grow. It does best with organic or 10-10-10 fertilizer every four to six weeks, but should never receive fresh manure, which will burn its roots.
Another important aspect of bamboo support is division. These plants expand quickly, and may grow up to 20 feet in a single season. Gardeners should dig up and divide rhizomes every two to three years to give the plants space for continued growth.
How to Kill a Bamboo Plant
Cut the stalks from the bamboo. Stalks grow in clumps called groves, one plant connected below the ground by rhizomes, a kind of stem. Use sharp, clean pruning shears to cut the stalks from the bamboo.
Cut the grove to ground level. With a spade or saw, cut pieces of the grove apart to remove all pieces above ground.
Place stalks and grove pieces in an outside trash container.
Water the soil around the plant until well-saturated; not soggy, but moist.
Apply 2 circular inches of manure around the bamboo plant. Cover the manured area with mulch to retain moisture. Water and fertilizer cause new growth, required to properly kill the plant.
Cut new growth from the plant when shoots emerge. Cut the plant to the ground every time new growth appears. Repeat cuttings exhaust the plant and will stop the plant from producing new shoots.
What Is the Best Potting Soil for Bamboo?
Soil Preference
Bamboo enjoys well-draining rich soils, so look for a potting soil that is well-draining, not sandy. Loamy soil is ideal, since this combines sand, clay and silt to hold moisture in to nourish the plant while still allowing adequate drainage.
The American Bamboo Society recommends using mulch to naturally fertilize your bamboo. Consider adding organic mulch in addition to potting soil when growing bamboo in containers. They suggest any type of organic mulch.
If you have sandy soil and want to grow bamboo, you will need to water the plant much more often. Bamboos in general need 1 gallon of water per 5 gallons of plant (based on the nursery container size), so plan accordingly. If you have heavier soil that does not drain well, you will need to water less often, but bamboo roots may get damaged over time in this type of soil.
How to Plant Bamboo Outdoors
Decide what type of bamboo you want to grow outside. Since there are more than 1,200 types of bamboo, there is always one perfectly suited to the climate you live in. Some bamboo plants love hot weather, while others can tolerate temperatures below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Choose a planting area that has well-drained soil that is good-quality (mix in some fertilizer and good-quality soil if it is not). You want this area to be consistently moist, whether it is from irrigation, a sprinkler system or water runoff. Make sure the ground temperature is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit before planting.
Use a small shovel to dig a hole that is as deep as the container your bamboo came in. Since the plants can grow rapidly, you want the holes to be able to accommodate a size twice as wide, at least. Carefully put the bamboo in the holes, which should be spaced several feet apart for multiple bamboo plantings. Fill in the holes with soil and mulch.
Water the bamboo thoroughly after planting. Continue to water the bamboo as necessary to keep the soil consistently moist but not soaked.
How to Cut Bamboo Stalks
Cut bamboo stalks narrower than 1 1/2 inches with pruning scissors. Cut larger stalks with pruning shears or a fine-toothed saw. Cut the bamboo from the garden when it is green; this will reduce splintering.
Heat the bamboo before you cut the stalk further by placing it in hot water or in an oven. This will make cutting the stalk easier and reduce the chance of tearing or cracking.
Place the bamboo stalk on a flat, sturdy surface. The stalk needs support to prevent cracking, bending and tearing of the bamboo fibers.
Cut carefully into the bamboo with a utility knife, then use firm pressure to move the blade back and forth to get a clean, even cut. Do this until you have cut completely through the stalk.
Make sure your cutting implements are sharp before you begin your project.


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The big move...
It has been almost a year since I said goodbye to this blog and now my Scotsman and I are saying goodbye to Scotland as well. After much discussion and even more paperwork, we are moving to Canada.
Thank you for all the lovely supportive emails and stories of Scotland. I will miss it here.
If you would like to be kept up-to-date with my creative wanderings, you can email me at firstname.lastname@example.com or follow me on Twitter at @pleasebringcake.
One more **squeeze** for the road. Wish me luck.


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After spending more than six hours on two occasions trying to get Joran van der Sloot to divulge the location in Aruba of Natalee Holloway's remains, an attorney for Holloway's mother said he has no doubt that van der Sloot is a psychopath.
"You can look right into his eyes and see he's cold as ice and pathological," John Q. Kelly told TODAY's Matt Lauer Friday in New York.
Van der Sloot, who is under arrest in Peru for the murder of the 21-year-old daughter of a prominent local family, has been suspected almost from the beginning of being responsible for Holloway's death in Aruba five years ago.
U.S. & World
Apparently desperate for money, the Dutch national contacted Kelly by e-mail in March, demanding $250,000 from Holloway's mother, Beth Holloway Twitty, in exchange for leading Kelly to the teenager's remains. He wanted $25,000 up front with the rest to be provided when the remains were recovered and proven to be Holloway's, Kelly said.
The information was used to set up a sting operation on May 10 with the FBI and Aruban law-enforcement authorities. After taking $25,000 in exchange for information that turned out to be false, Kelly said van der Sloot could have been arrested for wire fraud and extortion. But authorities said that more work needed to be done to build the case and van der Sloot was not only left free, he was allowed to leave Aruba for South America, where he would meet Stephany Flores, the woman he confessed to killing, while participating in a poker tournament.
Kelly said he does not know why van der Sloot was allowed to remain free.
"That wasn't my call," he said.
Money financed murder
The money Kelly gave to van der Sloot was provided by Holloway's mother, who would learn that the money probably financed the 24-year-old's trip to Peru, where he admits killing Flores.
"She's obviously devastated. It's the second nightmare for her," Kelly said of Twitty's reaction when she learned of Flores' death. "Another young girl is dead and another family is living the nightmare she went through. Needless to say, she's distraught right now."
Kelly said that when van der Sloot, contacted him, he did not think he was going to learn the truth.
His feelings, he said, were, "skepticism, caution, assuming everything he was going to tell me was false — but I had to understandably think that it might be true, also; so approach it very carefully and keep communicating."
Kelly ultimately decided he couldn't lose by playing along with van der Sloot's demands.
"It was a win-win situation. He was either going to pay the money, and if the information turned out to be true, Beth would get closure, she'd bring Natalie home. Assuming it was false, it would be extortion and wire fraud once falsehoods are proven. Either way, he'd be boxed in," Kelly said.
Independent operation
So Kelly went to Aruba in April to meet with van der Sloot without telling anyone but his own wife and Twitty. He met van der Sloot for about two hours in a hotel.
"No money, no recording devices. Nobody knew I was there," Kelly told Lauer. "It was Easter Sunday. It was one-on-one in a hotel room for a couple hours. He thought I was bringing the $25,000. I engaged him in a long series of conversations. I was trying to get as much information as I could."
Van der Sloot wanted money, and when Kelly said he didn't have it with him, the man got "very angry, very agitated, very upset."
Kelly said it was nerve-wracking.
"He's a big guy. He's 6'4, 225 [pounds], well built. He's sort of a threatening individual when he gets angry, no question."
When Kelly returned to the States, he contacted the FBI and began to set up the elaborate sting. He regained van der Sloot's attention by sending him $100. Then, with a promise that this time he would bring money, another meeting was set up for May 10 in Aruba.
This time, Kelly was hooked up with recording devices and rehearsed in how he needed to handle the transaction. He gave van der Sloot $10,000 in cash, establishing extortion, then had $15,000 wired to van der Sloot's bank account in the Netherlands, establishing wire fraud.
Van der Sloot and Kelly signed a contract, and van der Sloot took the lawyer on a drive to show where Holloway's remains were. He pointed out a house and said his father had helped dispose of the body in the foundation. It was later determined that the house was not built when Holloway disappeared on her high school's senior trip and the information was false.
Van der Sloot himself told Kelly in an email he apparently sent from Peru a week after the meeting that he had lied.
"He indicated it was all a hoax, which is sort of his M.O. with everybody — get the money, then say it's a hoax and avoid criminal prosecution," Kelly said.
Now police in Lima, Peru say that van der Sloot has told them he knows where Holloway's remains are located and that he intends to tell Aruban authorities.


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The Road to Health July 19, 2012Posted by ToYourHealth in Public Health.
Tags: Access to care, Health, Medical tourism, Surgery, Travel
The state of US healthcare looms near-crisis and unemployment levels remain steadily high. Over 16% of US citizens are without health insurance, and the rate is climbing. This combination will spur over 1.6 million Americans to seek affordable medical treatment abroad this year.
Granted, many of the procedures are elective: dental veneers, liposuction or breast augmentation. But some necessary treatments are plainly a better deal in other countries. A hip replacement will cost $43,000 in the US, but only $9,000 in India. The physicians are usually US or UK board certified, so quality of care is not necessarily compromised.
Medical tourism has grown so quickly that 50 countries now recognize it as a major national industry. There's a Medical Tourism Association & Global Healthcare Congress, medical travel companies, and guided tours for travel companions.
And even if you're not signing up for heart bypass surgery which is likely to cost $144,000 in the states, $25,000 in Costa Rica and only $8,500 in India, you may just pick up a few packs of antibiotics without prescription the next time you're vacationing in Mexico.
Here's a breakdown of treatments by country provided by mint.com:
Cardiology: India, where over 20,000 heart procedures are performed with a 98% success rate; South Africa
Cancer: Singapore Johns Hopkins at 40% discount.
Cosmetic Surgery: Brazil-for you or your pet!; South Africa where a "Surgeon + Safari" is popular.
Dentistry: Costa Rica, at a discounted rate of 70%; Mexico, which hosts 50,000 Americans each year.
Fertility/IVF: Barbados and Israel offer 50% savings.
Everything: Thailand accepts 400,000 patients each year for all the above plus transgender operations.
Don't feel beholden to the US practices to provide optimum care. If you happen to be traveling anyway or want to combine a health treatment into your travels, it's easy to do. A successful global free market will be created where competitive industries win. And contrary to popular thought, most people do not just travel for a better deal, but in search of the most advanced medical technologies, to receive better care, and quicker access to care, according to a McKinsey consultancy firm survey. Do a bit of preliminary homework and be wary of malpractice laws.
Further reading:
- 1. Sabrina Bolin (@MyMiBoSo) - July 23, 2012
I know my dad has taken advantage of the great benefit of reduced healthcare while travelling in Asia, and it's definitely something I would consider if I needed something more major than my routine check-ups! I think I would especially be more open to an area that integrated Eastern philosophy and more naturopathic methods – thanks for the run-down on the current options, Amy!
- 2. Health Tourism - January 21, 2015
Hi Amy, very nice article and I really appreciate your effort in spreading the word about healthcare


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Minnesota lawyer search
Minnesota lawyer search
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Only use the services of a competent lawyer. Competence can be determined if you look at the previous experience of the lawyer. Experience should be several years. In his experience must be won cases. Lost cases may be present in the lawyers experience, but not desirable.
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minnesota lawyer search for celebrities.
You can watch the celebrities and their minnesota lawyer search to immerse themselves in this topic.


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Despite the fact that I've carried an iPhone since the release of the 3G in 2008, I'm always open to switching to something new. But whatever I'd choose would have several hurdles to overcome, not the least of which is iOS's maturity and polish, as well as the lock-in from having spent lots of cash on my existing stash of apps.
However, the latest crop of Android phones running Ice Cream Sandwich has me tempted. They also have me re-thinking my stance on the shells that handset makers layer atop Android. The newest object of my desire: Samsung's Galaxy S III, which is available for all for all four major U.S. carriers. I've been playing with the AT&T version, and despite the fact that I'm not a big fan of Samsung's phone designs, I really like this one.
The Galaxy S III sells for $200 at AT&T with a two-year contract. It works on AT&T's LTE network, and falls back to 3G when the faster connection isn't available. At the moment, AT&T is still grandfathering unlimited data plan users, and on LTE you get up to 5 gigabytes of data before throttling hits.
The model I'm testing comes in a thin, light, "pebble blue" polycarbonate case that's sleek and attractive. Still, it feels plasticy and almost cheap – I like the more solid cases of HTC's One series. But if you prefer that your big-screen smartphones be light as a feather, the Galaxy S III fits the bill.
The display is a sprawling 4.8-inch, 1,280-by-720-pixel Super AMOLED display, with an excellent 306-ppi pixel density. It's bright and crisp and no pixels are visible, making it competitive with the iPhone's retina display. The screen uses Corning's Gorilla Glass, and I can testify to its toughness – I've been carrying it in a pants pocket with my change, and it's completely unscratched.
The Galaxy S III runs Android 4.0, overlaid with an updated version of Samsung's TouchWiz interface, which replaces some of the standard Android conventions. Its changes are more heavy-handed than on HTC's newest Sense interface, making substantive tweaks to how Android works. I prefer the way TouchWiz handles menus, for example, and it smooths out many of the rough edges inconsistencies that still plague Android.
Of course, the problem with these interfaces is that they contribute to the delays Android owners face when new versions of the operating systems are released. Handset makers must adapt their overlays to the new mobile OS before they can push it out to users, a process that can take months and ultimately contributes to the notorious fragmentation of the Android ecosystem. Still, I have to admit that these overlays are getting better. While enthusiasts and purists may insist on "clean" phones like the Galaxy Nexus, I've come to the conclusion that these tweaked interfaces may better serve mainstream users.
(I say this, of course, without having tried Jelly Bean, Android 4.1. That may put me back in the pure-Android camp. Yeah, I'm fickle that way . . . )
The phone's software is fast and very fluid, thanks to the hardware muscle behind it. The Galaxy S III has a 1.5-GHz dual-core processor and a full 2 GB of RAM (which means it can be updated to Android 4.1). It comes with 16 GB of storage, but has a microSD slot that allows for an additional 64 GB. That makes it a better choice than the HTC One X for AT&T, which sadly has no way to expand its storage. [Update: As several commenters have noted, yes, Sprint's version of the HTC One platform, the Evo 4G LTE, does have a microSD slot for expandable storage.]
The rear camera is excellent, with 8 megapixels and the capability of capturing 1080p HD video. It also has a burst photo mode that can grab 3.3 shots in a second, then suggests which image is the best one. The front camera is decent, with 1.9 MP, but it's clearly designed mainly for videochats.
The Galaxy S III also supports Near Field Communications, or NFC, which lets you communicate with other smartphones and devices. It also can be used to make payments via your phone, but not many merchants support this yet.
The phone also comes with Samsung's S-Voice, which serves the same personal-assistant function as Apple's Siri. However, as with Siri, I found S-Voice more frustrating than useful. It often got questions and commands wrong. For example, I asked S-Voice repeatedly to dial my wife's cell phone number, and for some reason it kept wanted to dial a number used to check your AT&T bill balance. I wound up abandoning it for typing, or using Google's own voice recognition and dictation capabilities.
As you'd expect, the Galaxy S III comes with plenty of crapware that can't be deleted easily. You'll have to stick with a Galaxy Nexus if you want to avoid that.
As with past AT&T phones that work with LTE, the Galaxy S III's data performance is excellent. I routinely got download speeds in between 16-20 megabits per second, and sometimes peaked at over 50 Mbps. However, there were consistency issues. Several times, streaming video was a stop and start affair, particularly in Houston's downtown area. Speed tests showed decent connections, but there was a lot of lag.
The S III has a removable battery, and it's a whopper. The phone has decent battery life, delivering about a day and a half on a full charge with average use.
The Galaxy S III ranks as one of the best Android phones I've used and I could easily see making it mine. I still I prefer the HTC One series, for its lighter-touch Sense overlay and more solid case. But the lack of onboard storage expansion frustrates me there.
I'm going to wait and see what the next iPhone looks like, but there's a chance this – or any of several Android smartphones – could take its place. You can see the contenders for my affection in this slideshow.
Ideally, what I'd like is an Android phone:
1. With the screen size and build quality of the HTC One S for T-Mobile.
2. Running on Verizon's large LTE network, but at AT&T's LTE speeds.
3. With Sprint's unlimited data plan.
4. With the Samsung Galaxy S III's microSD slot for more storage.


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- Ang Lee's name beamed on building in Taiwan after Oscar win
- Lee, born in Taiwan, won award for best director for "Life of Pi"
- Lee's win created excitement in Taiwan and China, both claimed him as their own
- Ryan: "In some ways it feels like 'Linsanity' all over again"
Editor's note: Andrew Ryan is a host and producer at Radio Taiwan International, a government-owned station that broadcasts in several languages and countries. He first came to Taiwan in 1996 as a Fulbright scholar and has spent the last 16 years as a translator and observer of politics and culture.
Taipei (CNN) -- It's not every territory in the world that puts an Oscar-winning director's name up in lights on a towering building. But that's just the sort of thing that happens in Taiwan -- and it did on Monday night after Ang Lee picked up his second "Best Director" Oscar, this time for "Life of Pi."
The moment wasn't just celebrated in grand statements, but in small scenes played out in front of televisions across Taiwan when his name was announced.
I was at a TV station in Taipei that was broadcasting live coverage of the Oscars, working with a team of translators that was creating the subtitles for the rebroadcast. When Lee's name was announced the office erupted in applause. Down the hallway, more cheering could be heard.
READ: Oscar winners: Analysis of who won
I couldn't help but think back to the Athens Games in 2004, when Chen Shih-hsin won Taiwan's first ever Olympic gold medal (under the team name "Chinese Taipei"). Even veteran news anchors shed tears when the young taekwondo star defeated her Cuban rival.
It would be reductive to suggest that these displays of patriotism are simply the response of a small country that just doesn't crank out that many Oscar winners or Olympic golds. It also speaks of a place that has been largely marginalized in the international community.
Today, Taiwan has just 23 official diplomatic allies -- mostly other marginalized nations, in Central America and Africa. That's because China still sees Taiwan as part of its territory more than 60 years after the Chinese Nationalists retreated to the island at the end of a Civil War against the Communists. The Nationalists -- or Kuomintang -- are now the ruling party in a democratic Taiwan, which is officially called the Republic of China (ROC) -- not to be confused with the People's Republic of China on the Mainland.
Having lost its seat at the United Nations to the PRC in 1971, the ROC found itself with a diminished voice in the international community. It turned to manufacturing and technology in the 1980s, spurring on what is now referred to as an "economic miracle." Today, with its economy struggling to move past the global economic downturn, Taiwan has added the arts, sports, and even baking to its repertoire.
READ: Oscars 2013: Hollywood gets political
What's striking about Lee's win is that it's not just people in Taiwan who were quick to claim him as one of their own. In China, the state-run Xinhua news agency referred to him as "Chinese-American." While Taiwanese media latched onto the portion of Lee's acceptance speech when he thanked Taiwan and the central city of Taichung where much of the movie was filmed, Xinhua's main story included Lee's line of thanks to the 3,000 people who worked on the film for "believing this story and sharing this incredible journey with me."
In some ways it feels like "Linsanity" all over again, when Taiwan and China both claimed basketball star Jeremy Lin as their own, leaving the international media struggling to chart the dangerous waters of identity politics to correctly describe him.
VIEW: Photos from the red carpet
A very small voice at the fringe of the discussion wonders why it's important for people to know that Lin's paternal grandmother lives in Taiwan and referred to him as "a real Taiwanese," or that Lee grew up in Tainan and still loves to visit his favorite noodle shop there. Others in Taiwan question why a nation's confidence should be based on its success in the international community.
When Ang Lee's name was announced, the office erupted in applause. Down the hallway, more cheering could be heard.
Andrew Ryan
With China looming to the north, now the world's second biggest economy and wielding an influence that's verging on "superpower" status, the metaphor of Jonah and the whale comes to mind. The Taiwanese electorate is sharply divided on how it feels about the way ties with China have warmed ever since President Ma Ying-jeou first took office in 2008. The benefits are obvious, considering China is Taiwan's largest trade partner, but some worry that it could lead to a loss in autonomy.
INTERACTIVE: Oscars by numbers
The Ma administration has been mindful of the nationalistic rhetoric of the opposition, and although the president was born in Hong Kong, he has referred to himself in the past as "Taiwanese as well as Chinese." Ma was also quick to congratulate Lee following the Oscars, and to urge others to follow in the director's footsteps and "work hard at promoting Taiwan to the world."
Lee is just one name on a growing list of national heroes that both the government and the private sector have celebrated in recent years for putting Taiwan on the map: people like fashion designer Jason Wu, who moved to Canada from Taiwan and has created garments for U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama; master baker Wu Pao-chun, who beat the French patissiers at their own competition -- Les Masters de la Boulangerie in 2010; Yani Tseng, the world's number one female golfer; and even the humble vegetable seller-turned-philanthropist Chen Shu-chu, who was selected by Time Magazine as one of its heroes of 2010.
So what are people saying when they embrace these heroes as Taiwanese? They are saying "Taiwan may be small and diplomatically isolated, but it deserves to have a voice in the international community." While Lee may not speak about politics and no longer creates movies about Taiwan, he does have a voice and people do listen. And that's worth spreading in lights across the world's second-tallest building.
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The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Andrew Ryan.
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BPW is now First Bottle Wines
Dear Oenophile,
In case you didn't get our email we sent recently, BPW is now FIRST BOTTLE WINES, a killer new, wine-packed site that is a "sister" site to the world-famous Last Bottle Wines.
You can still log in and check your purchases, arrange shipping, etc., but all the cool wines and all the action is over at www.firstbottlewines.com
We're the same guys you know, still in Napa, still importing all manner of fine wine at excellent prices, we just have a new look and feel.
Shipping Questions: email@example.com
Other Questions: email@example.com
—Stefan, Brent and Cory
Visit First Bottle Wines


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Banter! Music! Both of the great and amazing old skool kind:
John performs Till Tuesday song with The Both
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Essendon Bombers Plush Penguin
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Huggable and heart warming, this Essendon Bombers Plush Penguin is the perfect gift for the littlest of AFL fans. This plush penguin sports a beanie and scarf clearly displaying the club colours loudly and proudly. Finished with a club logo patch at the beanie, your budding AFL fan can get into the family AFL fandom with this Essendon Bombers Plush Penguin.


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Health care organizations looking to comply with the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act have a new option in the recently released HIPAA Essential from StillSecure.
The solution provides the technology, expert personnel and certified processes to comply with many HIPAA HITECH requirements and is the only packaged managed security solution with third-party audited and approved security services, the company said.
The HITECH Act was passed in 2009 to broaden and strengthen the privacy protections of the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It also increased the penalties for data breaches.
With HIPAA Essential, which has been independently audited by Coalfire Systems, customers will inherit the solution's controls and certification, and receive semi-annual security posture reviews by StillSecure security experts
In order to comply with the statute, StillSecure HIPAA Essential includes the following managed services:
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Alex Trebek thanks fans in 'Jeopardy!' Season 36 premiere
Alex Trebek has returned to host the new season of Jeopardy! following months of pancreatic cancer treatment.
The beloved host of the U.S. TV game show marked his comeback on the premiere episode of the 36th season on Monday night, and provided fans with a short acknowledgement of his health battle at the beginning of the episode.
"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to our show…," Trebek smiled. "Today, Jeopardy! begins its 36th season on the air and I'm happy to report I'm still here."
Alex, 79, did not provide further details on his health progress after revealing in March he had been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. The Canadian TV legend has been undergoing chemotherapy to combat the disease.


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About Us
In 1949, Vitamix founder William G. "Papa" Barnard created the first infomercial in the U.S. to demonstrate how the Vitamix blender can help families eat healthier with whole foods.
Watch a clip of the original infomercial
Company History
Join the fourth-generation President of Vitamix for a walk through our nearly century-long, true American success story.
Liberate and nourish the zest for life.
We create relationships for life by designing, developing and producing the world's best performing and most reliable blending solutions.
As we continue to expand worldwide, we seek employees whose values match our own: Family, Customers, Quality, Integrity, and Teamwork.


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Two thirds of women have suffered sexual discrimination, with 31% reporting monthly or quarterly occurences, and 11% once a week or more
The latest AJ Women in Architecture survey has revealed a rise in the number of women who have suffered sexual discrimination during their career in architecture
Two thirds of women respondents say they have suffered sexual discrimination at some time during their career in architecture – up three points from last year and up eight points from the first survey in 2011.
A staggering 54% of female architecture students say they have experienced sexual discrimination while at architecture school.
In this year's survey, 31 per cent of women respondents say they have experienced or witnessed sexual discrimination on a monthly or quarterly basis, with 11 per cent experiencing sexual discrimination weekly or daily. Discrimination in the survey is defined as anything from inappropriate comments to being treated differently because of your gender.
Two-thirds (66 per cent) of women believe the building industry hasn't fully accepted the authority of the female architect, and almost half of the male respondents agree. This shared perception could explain why male-dominated practices fail to promote women to higher positions or promote their visibility to the industry because they believe women architects command less respect. Several respondents to the survey mention the lack of women in senior roles as a major cause for concern.
More than a quarter (27 per cent) of women respondents say they have experienced bullying while working in architecture, down from 38 per cent last year. A number cite other women as their tormentor, with one saying: 'The problem is that, since we women in architecture are so few, there is a lot of competitiveness, rather than collaboration.'
But bullying in the industry is not solely a women's issue. Although just 11 per cent of men had been subject to sexual discrimination, almost double that number (23 per cent) say they have experienced bullying.
More than three quarters (79 per cent) of women respondents think the industry is too male-dominated, and most men agree – 73 per cent say the profession is too heavily male. The number of women who object to the gender imbalance of architecture continues to rise – up 16 points since the first annual survey published in 2012.
How often have you suffered or witnessed sexual discrimination in your career in architecture?
Women architects respond:
'Women don't have a high level of confidence. This, combined with lower self-esteem can put women at higher risk of experiencing sexual discrimination. It is sad that we have to be 'tough' to make it into this profession. It shouldn't be like this.'
'I have never felt discriminated by clients or contractors but I have from my own profession.'
'My career in construction began in 1997, and inappropriate comments were more frequently made then. However, discriminatory remarks are still common, mainly because SMEs still struggle with maternity leave and I believe this will continue until the industry and society as a whole get to gripe with paternity (rather than just maternity) needs.'
'Mostly in my younger days. Men tend to be more respectful to older women out of good manners. But you still have to prove your abilities more or less constantly to remain on a par with the opposite gender.'
'For the most part I have had few experiences of discrimination in offices and have encountered more obvious sexism working with contractors in the field. I have received comments such as 'do you get your way because you're pretty?' and 'go home to the husband and kid'. I have also been interviewed for positions and offered a 30 per cent lower salary than a man with less experience.'
Do you think there are as many opportunities for women as for men in architecture?
Women architects respond:
'It depends on what you are willing to sacrifice and tolerate. If you can stomach it then there are just as many opportunities.'
'The opportunities are equal if you are ambitious, talented and have good people skills. But maybe you have to work harder for the opportunities as a woman.'
'Men are more political and navigate the work arena far better. Women miss out on networking opportunities because they are not so used to talking business. They learn.'
About the survey
More people than ever completed this year's AJ Women in Architecture online survey: 926 respondents took part – 710 women and 216 men.
Fifty-three per cent of all those who responded to the survey are architects, but it was also filled out by developers, PRs, consultants, structural engineers, quantity surveyors, academics and students, giving a broad insight into the way women are perceived across the industry.
The respondents are predominantly young – 80 per cent are under 40. Half of these are architects, including associates, directors, partners and sole practitioners. More than a third are students.
Of the architects who responded, almost a third are based in London; 24 per cent are in the rest of England, 8 per cent in Scotland, less than 1 per cent in Wales, 2 per cent in Northern Ireland, and 4 per cent are based in the rest of Europe.
Interestingly, the number of respondents completing the survey in the USA has increased sixfold, from just four per cent in 2013 to nearly a quarter – 24 per cent of responses – this year. The increase is likely linked to the impact of Denise Scott Brown's interview with the AJ last year, which sparked international coverage of the petition to have Scott Brown retroactively included in her partner Robert Venturi's 1991 Pritzker Prize win.
This survey, now in its third year, is a vital part of the AJ's on-going campaign to raise the status and profile of women in architecture. The data, collected annually, allows the AJ to track progress in perception, equal pay and position over time. The survey also informs the Women in Architecture campaign's focus for the coming year in response to concerns shared by women in the industry.
Architect wins sexism case
Sexual discrimination on the rise for women in architecture
First ever industry-wide survey of attitudes to sexuality launched
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Todd Akin was declared the Republican U.S. Senate primary winner in Missouri Tuesday and will face incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill in November.
Roll Call said election results showed Akin, a veteran congressman, had bested wealthy businessman John Brunner and former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman for the chance to block McCaskill from winning a second term. The Washington publication said Akin had 36 percent of the vote with 74 percent of the precincts reporting with Brunner and Steelman too far back to catch up and five other candidates trailing far behind.
Steelman conceded she had lost but Brunner said he wasn't ready to follow suit, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
Meanwhile, Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon learned he will face Republican Dave Spence in the general election. Spence easily outran Bill Randles, Fred Sauer and John Weiler
A poll released Monday by the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling had shown Brunner in the lead with 35 percent followed by Akin at 30 and Steelman at 25.
Democrats have said they would prefer McCaskill to face Akin.
In Michigan's GOP Senate primary former Rep. Pete Hoekstra defeated businessman Clark Durant, the Detroit Free Press reported. Hoekstra will face Democrat incumbent Debbie Stabenow, considered a major underdog, in the fall.
Former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra beat Republican challenger Clark Durant on Tuesday night, winning the right to face two-term incumbent U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow in the fall's general election.
In his concession statement, Durant urged Michiganders to unite behind Hoekstra.
"In November, we all must unite behind candidates who will focus on the solutions to our record debt and spending crisis," he said.
Republicans only need a net gain of four seats to win control of the Senate this fall. The GOP has spent more than $15 million against McCaskill.


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Zuckerberg: Government 'blew it' on data collection
Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the government "really blew it" on the surveillance tactics used by the National Security Agency.
"I think the government really blew it on this one, and I honestly think that they're continuing to blow it in some ways. And I hope that they become more transparent in that part of it," Zuckerberg said in an interview aired Sunday on ABC's "This Week."
He acknowledged that people "all want national security." But when asked whether the mass collection of data was the route to achieve that security, Zuckerberg said, "These things are always about in terms of doing the right things, and also being clear and telling people about what you're doing."
Zuckerberg also had some advice for President Barack Obama regarding the troubled rollout of Healthcare.gov.
"Sometimes stuff doesn't work when you want it to. We've certainly had plenty of mistakes and things that haven't worked the way that we want to," Zuckerberg said. "The right thing here is just to keep on focusing on building a service that you think is right in the long term."
Zuckerberg, who has been vocal on his position for immigration reform even visiting Capitol Hill in September to meet with lawmakers on the issue, said he remained optimistic that it will get done.
"I'm fundamentally an optimistic person as an entrepreneur," he said. "The vast majority of Americans want this to happen. We have to push forward. It needs to happen."


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Album: Chocolate Lagai Chhau
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Mediated Reality
As a strong believer in new forms of 'collection outreach', I'm very happy to have been part of an exciting collaboration with the prestigious Art and Design Academy ArtEZ in Arnhem. This year we commissioned an art work to Michelle van Ool, studying at the Interaction Design Department of ArtEZ, who was asked to find inspiration for her work in our collection. The brief was to engage with the material aspects of our film collection and to bring them under the attention of a wider audience. Without concrete goals in mind, we encouraged a reflection on the characteristics of the medium film. The student was quite free to choose any form or path that suited her.
During the following three months, Michelle was shown films from our nitrate and acetate collection with distinguishable and unique physical characteristics, as an inspiration source. It was clear from the beginning that as an interaction designer and a maker, she was interested in building a machine. Eventually she decided to focus on the technical process of film duplication and the importance of the negative as the 'authentic' carrier of information.
The result of this process is a machine called MEDIATED REALITY. This machine is able to perform film developing and printing in real time.
The idea behind MEDIATED REALITY is based upon Michelle's fascination with the concept of visual perception and how reliable the medium of film is. With her machine she reveals the reproductive characteristics of the medium film and the loss of information inherent to the process of copying. Michelle concentrated her research on a specific film collection: the left overs of Naughty Boys by Eric de Kuyper. These left overs contained undeveloped footage locked in cans for more than 30 years.
In her own words: 'Photographs often serve as proof of evidence in crime scenes. In the past, negatives were used because these are the first results of developing film. Mediated Reality is a machine that questions the reliability of this medium. This machine is able to both develop and copy film right away… By making a contact print of the original negative film, a positive copy emerges. During this process of copying, many other negatives are produced, which start to look completely different from the original movie'.
The machine allows you to watch in real time how a film reel is developed. The whole process of fixing and drying takes about 20 minutes. While some of us are familiar with this photographic process happening in the dark room of photographers, I was never able to see how 'film' develops before. Normally this process takes place in chemical tanks in film laboratories and is never visible. During the performance, the machine is working under the safe red light which allows the orthochromatic film stock (less sensitive to red light) to develop and copy itself unto another stock and produce first a negative and then a positive and then again a negative and so on. Every time the copy 'appears' under your eyes, it differs from the previous one. This is due to different factors like the chemicals getting older, the exposure time of the light source, the 'slippage' caused by the motor driving the film through the machine. All factors which are difficult to predict or even control and which give rise to surprising visual results when the copies are projected onto a screen.
The remarkable thing about this project is how Michelle van Ool, without prior knowledge of the film medium, managed to achieve these results by means of research and practical experimentation. In only three months she was able to get a grip on how the process of film developing and printing works and to design and build the machine from scratch.
The machine has been recently exhibited at the ArtEZ Academy as part of their final exam exhibition and I went there to see it working during a performance given by Michelle. Even though I had seen photographs of the machine before I was stunned to see how its complexity was translated into aesthetic beauty and functionality. MEDIATED REALITY is really well-thought and designed and it gives a fascinating insight into the magical world of the film medium from a young emerging artist's perspective.
It is therefore an honour for us to add MEDIATED REALITY to our collection. Hopefully this machine will be exhibited and performed in and outside of EYE in the near future.
For this project I would like to personally thank Martijn van Boven, lecturer at the Interaction Design Department who has supported this collaboration from the start. Special thanks to Mark-Paul Meyer who guided Michelle in the difficult world of film development. And of course Michelle herself with her inquisitive and open curiosity towards our world of film heritage.
For more information and to see the machine at work, you can clcik here.
By Simona Monizza, Curator Experimental film, EYE Filmmuseum.Tag:experimental film, experimentele film, materialiteit, materiality, film medium, installaties, installation, interaction design, film stock