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The spotlight this year at Microsoft's annual Ignite conference didn't fall on Windows or Windows Server. But that's to be expected as Microsoft has shifted its focus to Azure and other cloud services like Microsoft 365. And Windows 10 got its big announcement at the Surface event in New York recently where Microsoft unveiled Surface Neo, a dual-screen foldable device that will run a new SKU called Windows 10X. But Windows hasn't been left out at this year's conference and here are some noteworthy announcements for Windows IT professionals.
Windows Admin Center (WAC) is where Microsoft is investing in new tooling for Windows Server. Not only does it for the first time provide Server Core with a GUI, but WAC will eventually replace the management consoles bundled with the desktop experience in Windows Server; many of which haven't seen significant improvements in almost 20 years. For more information on WAC and Windows Server Core, see Windows Server 2019 Release Sees Server Core Adoption Soar on Petri.
As part of Windows Admin Center 1910, which you can get from Microsoft's website for free here, and after Performance Monitor first debuted in Windows in 1993, Microsoft announced a preview of its reimagined Performance Monitor tool. The new monitor has a modern, clean layout that's available in both light and dark mode. You can get started easily by choosing an object, instance, and then counter from a series of boxes along the top of a new workspace. If you know the counter you want to use, keyword search helps you find it quickly. Explanations for each counter can be accessed by hovering the cursor over the counter name.
There are several graph types available, including line, report, and min-max. Workspaces allow you to save layouts so you can organize the tool for different monitoring scenarios. Microsoft has also made it easy to aggregate performance counters for Windows Server clusters, including hyperconverged infrastructures. I'll be looking at the new Performance Monitor on Petri in more detail in the coming weeks.
Azure Active Directory (AAD) already supports FIDO security key logins in public preview for cloud-only users but Microsoft announced that support is coming to hybrid AAD/Windows Server AD environments. This feature lets users sign in to Windows 10 using a FIDO security key, instead of a password, and provides single sign-on (SSO) access to cloud resources. Microsoft says:
The expansion of Azure AD support for FIDO2 to hybrid environments has been a huge collaboration effort across various teams within Microsoft and we're proud to be delivering milestones like this that leap forward in our quest to make the passwordless world a reality.
FIDO support for hybrid AD environments will go into public preview in early 2020. For more information on passwordless sign-in, check out aka.ms/gopasswordless.
In case you missed it, Microsoft has revealed a new logo for its upcoming Chromium-based Edge browser. Not very interesting you might say. But more importantly, Microsoft said that the new browser will be made generally available January 15th, 2020 and that the current beta is the final before GA. Initially, the new Edge will be available for Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8, and macOS but Linux support is also planned.
The new browser contains features for enterprises, including Internet Explorer mode for seamless support of legacy web apps. There's also integration with Microsoft Search in Bing so that users can save time by searching for company information, like employees and office locations, using natural language. Microsoft also announced that it's providing over 100 connectors for Microsoft Search and they will be available in the first half of 2020 for Microsoft 365 customers. There will be connectors for Salesforce.com, ServiceNow, Box, and more.
Finally, Microsoft FastTrack, a deployment program that helps customers move to the cloud, is being expanded to include the new Microsoft Edge in Q1 2020. The App Assure program, where Microsoft helps you get your legacy apps working in Windows 10, will also be expanded to include the new Edge browser. There's also a new preview security baseline template for Edge that IT admins can apply.
Because Azure Active Directory is an extension of Windows Server Active Directory, it seems right to cover these updates here. Azure multifactor authentication (MFA) will be available for free for all customers using the Microsoft Authenticator app. As part of the announcement, Microsoft said that MFA will be enabled by default starting next month in all new AAD tenants for Microsoft 365, Office 365, Dynamics, and Azure. Although the rollout process may take a few months.
Azure AD Identity Protection has been updated with added and enhanced signals, improved APIs for integration with Security Operations Center (SOC) environments, and a new user interface.
Conditional Access also gets a report-mode. It's currently in public preview and lets system administrators see the impact that policies have before enforcing them. And Azure Monitor customers can see the impact of Conditional Access policies using the new Conditional Access workbook.
Microsoft will preview a new feature in Azure AD Connect at the end of November that will allow user identities to be synchronized from Windows Server AD forests and Azure AD regardless of where the forest is located with the help of light-weight agents. The agents can be deployed for redundancy and high availability; and they consolidate users into a single AAD tenant.
Azure AD entitlement management helps organizations more efficiently manage access to groups, apps, and SharePoint Online sites. You can use it to delegate non-admins the ability to create 'access packages' that contain resources that users, internal or external, can request access to.
SAP SuccessFactors is an HR management system and Microsoft announced the public preview of inbound user provisioning. Microsoft said: "You can implement end-to-end identity lifecycle management covering the entire spectrum of Joiner-Mover-Leaver scenarios using SuccessFactors as the "system of record." Your new employees can get up and running on their first day, and you can modify or revoke access automatically based on the employees role and status in SuccessFactors."
Last but by no means least, Microsoft announced the convergence of System Center Configuration Manager (SSCM) and Intune. Microsoft Endpoint Manager (MEM) combines Intune and SCCM functionality and data with new intelligent 'actions' for seamless end-to-end management of endpoints. MEM will also include the Device Management Admin Center (DMAC) and Desktop Analytics. For more on Desktop Analytics, see Migrate to Windows 10 Using Microsoft's Desktop Analytics Service on Petri.
Customers will see the Microsoft Endpoint Manager name appear in the Microsoft 365 console later this month. And any SCCM tasks and data you have will also show up there. Microsoft promises that organizations using Intune and Configuration Manager together will benefit from cloud intelligence. For example, you can completely automate compatibility testing when upgrading to a new version of Windows 10, deploy Windows 10 faster, and take immediate action on all your devices; a feature that SCCM users have been asking for.
Everyone's favorite topic. Intune will be available to all Configuration Manager customers so that Windows devices can be co-managed. But if you want to manage non-Windows devices using MEM, you will still need to buy an Intune, Enterprise Mobility & Security (EMS), or a Microsoft 365 E3 or higher license.


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By Eric Heinz
The settlement terms between the city of San Clemente and Sovereign Health, as well as Vedanta Laboratories, were made effective on Sept. 5 and laid out a legal path moving forward between the municipality and the behavioral health treatment provider.
Lawsuits were filed by the entities involved in late 2015 after the city approved a moratorium of the establishment of short-term lodging units, which the Council believed had enough language in it to include sober living and residential treatment homes and similar operations within certain areas of San Clemente. The law was expected to be temporary until the city could find a solution to regulate such residences and commercial facilities in a way that didn't violate federal housing laws.
Vedanta Laboratories is Sovereign's main resource for toxicology orders for its clients and was involved with the Sovereign lawsuit.
The city's suit focused on multiple citations issued to Sovereign Health's temporary residences, while Sovereign sued in federal court against the city's restrictions on additional establishments.
Some of the notable details of the settlement include the city relinquishing all debt collection against Sovereign "related to unpaid administrative citations" at Sovereign's residences and its headquarters.
Sovereign will be allowed to operate no more than 12 residential houses for the first 18 months of the agreement, other than the residences licensed by the state of California to provide such housing for six or fewer residents. After that time, they can apply to have 18 residences. But that number can be reduced by one for excessive violations of the city's current ordinances.
The residences it operates still cannot be less than 300 feet from one another.
Sovereign will be able to continue to operate its current facilities for the next three years, and the city agreed that its current facilities fit within the ordinances. The city's ordinances that it passed in 2015 and extended in 2016 will stay intact.
Sovereign's main headquarters, located at 1211 Puerta del Sol, will be allowed to continue its onsite behavioral health and mental health treatment services until March 2019, and then if the agreement is extended, it may continue to provide group counseling until September 2020.
"As a condition precedent to such extension…and as part of Sovereign Health's commitment to be a good neighbor, Sovereign Health agrees to provide the city with an operations plan for its headquarters," the agreement stated. The operations plan must outline the methods Sovereign
Health will conduct for counseling services and appointments, as well as set parameters for handling of medical waste, designated smoking areas, transportation of its clients and more. The plan must be completed and submitted by the city within six months.
Part of the "good neighbor" arrangement requires Sovereign to provide an onsite manager 24 hours a day at their residential homes at the request of the city or one of the neighboring residents' request.
In June, Sovereign was subjected to FBI search raids, and the nature of the investigation is still sealed by a federal judge. Sovereign recently filed to have the federal search warrants unsealed by the presiding judge.
Click here to read the full settlement agreement between the city of San Clemente and Sovereign Health

subset: commoncrawl


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Christa Banister
Dallas, TX via St. Paul, MN
Highly caffeinated novelist + film critic who watches bad movies so you don't have to. Loves Will (!!!), Scrabble, travel, Italian food and Packer touchdowns.
Recent Activity
Since the weather has been downright frightful pretty much everywhere these days (well, unless you call sunny Los Angeles or Miami home, mind you), there's probably no better escape from the chill than cozying up with a good book. Well,... Continue reading
Posted Jan 28, 2014 at *hey there, it's christa*
When I went to grab a box of tissues from the hall closet (yep, it's been sniffles and coughs all week here), I was pretty smitten by the sight of everything all neat and tidy and in its place. If... Continue reading
Posted Jan 25, 2014 at *hey there, it's christa*
Ever since I turned 30, I've been dreading the birthday I just celebrated two days ago. It's not the "big" one that'll happen in (gasp!) two more years, but in my mind, my 38th birthday was always the scarier milestone.... Continue reading
Posted Jan 4, 2014 at *hey there, it's christa*
The day after Casey went back to Wisconsin, I made my way to Colorado for a few days for an early Christmas. And if you can't tell from the picture, Adelyn was pretty thrilled. There's no greater joy than how... Continue reading
I LOVE decorating for Christmas, so as you can probably guess, I was thrilled to pieces when this little guy made its way to our living room. I've always had a soft spot for real Christmas trees with a chubby... Continue reading
My brother Casey's goofy expression is way cuter than mine, but I still love this picture. Yes, this is the day when our beloved Packers came back from a 23-point deficit to hand the Cowboys a big ol' loss in... Continue reading
Like most people, I'm feeling mighty reflective on this last day of 2013. I don't know about you, but I'm still in denial about December actually being over. It whooshed by faster than I could keep up most days. But... Continue reading
Disclaimer: I just noticed that my blog has gone a little foodie crazy lately, so here's hoping that's okay with everyone reading. :) Don't worry, I promise I'll still keep talking about movies and makeup and everything else, but when... Continue reading
Posted Nov 26, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*
Until a couple of years ago, I didn't know just how easy it is to make homemade cranberry sauce. In the past, Crate & Barrel used to sell an incredible cranberry conserve the Barefoot Contessa whipped up, so that was... Continue reading
Posted Nov 19, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*
I'm not quite sure how it happened so fast, but we're now only nine days (!!!) from chowing down on turkey celebrating Thanksgiving. Considering how all the stores transitioned to all things Christmas weeks ago (yes, I actually heard "Silver... Continue reading
Posted Nov 19, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*
Thirty years ago, I was given one of the best gifts a girl could ever ask for—a baby sister. Although I couldn't spell her name correctly at the time (I thought Lynnsey was the proper configuration of letters, but hey,... Continue reading
Posted Nov 11, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*
Movie critic confession: Until last night, I'd never seen All About Eve. I'd always heard good things about it, though, so it was perennially on my to-watch list. Turns out, back in 1951, it was awarded the Academy Award for... Continue reading
Posted Oct 25, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*
There's nothing better than when two of your favorite foods come together and make something even tastier. Case in point: this homemade pumpkin granola. In what won't be a surprise to anyone who knows me well, I'm a pretty ardent... Continue reading
Posted Oct 19, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*
Today I woke up to the most glorious of sights—delightfully overcast, rainy goodness in DFW. And on a holiday Monday, no less... Lest you think I'm being sarcastic about rainy days and Mondays not getting me down, let me assure... Continue reading
Posted Oct 14, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*
After a very long, very stubborn holdout, I've finally done it. I've joined Pinterest. By the way, I'm blaming all things pumpkin for hopping on the bandwagon. When I was in Colorado visiting my family, my sister was looking up... Continue reading
Posted Oct 10, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*
In what's been a pretty welcome development for someone who stares at a computer screen as much as I do, I've been practically M.I.A. from blogging, Twitter, Facebook and the like lately. Sure, I've still been writing, but it's also... Continue reading
Posted Oct 8, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*
Ever feel like a bit of an underachiever? Well, trust me, practically nothing can make you feel less productive than a quick glance at Martha Stewart's monthly calendar. Yes, even with all her legal troubles, 72-year-old Martha still has time... Continue reading
Posted Sep 8, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*
In what's, perhaps, the most glaring reminder that time is passing much, much too quickly...my adorable niece Adelyn is (gasp!) starting kindergarten tomorrow. Yes, one of the highlights of my summer was being in Colorado for all the birthday fun.... Continue reading
Posted Aug 21, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*
Considering that I'm a movie critic by trade, it's probably not surprising that I planted my backside in plenty of those plushy cinema chairs this summer. What was a bit of a shocker, however, is how many films I actually... Continue reading
Posted Aug 14, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*
Since flip-flops are officially on clearance, NFL training camps are in full swing (hurrah!) and No. 2 pencils, five-subject notebooks and the like are flooding the retail aisles, it's probably safe to say that summer is officially winding down. Although,... Continue reading
Posted Aug 7, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*
Since it's only July 10, I know it's probably a little early to crown a "favorite summer read," but so far, that coveted title goes to Mia March's new novel, Finding Colin Firth. Ever read a book where there's such... Continue reading
Posted Jul 10, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*
For the past few weeks, people have been tweeting like crazy about something called a cronut, and I honestly thought it was a new iPhone ap. Or maybe a new exercise craze like Zumba. So today for my continuing cultural... Continue reading
Posted Jun 29, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*
It's been (gasp!) seven years since I left Nashville, and there's still so much about my time there that's stuck with me, namely great friends (you know who you are) and fling tea. Yes, before I moved to Music City... Continue reading
Posted Jun 29, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*
If you're in the DFW area, or you know, just feel like making a very long commute to say hello, I'm doing a book reading/signing/discussion at my local Starbucks next Saturday morning, June 22nd, at 11:00 a.m. In addition to... Continue reading
Posted Jun 15, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*
It's always fun whenever a friend has a novel out, and this is Lee Wilson's first, The Last Hybrid: Bloodline of Angels. Described as a "paranormal romance," he says it'll help feel the void that Twilight has left behind. Now... Continue reading
Posted Jun 10, 2013 at *hey there, it's christa*


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Tuesday, the gold price broke out above its 4 month long triangular flag pattern. Very bullish, particularly since it gapped up and out of the pattern. It should not be surprising if gold does not come back down to close the gap. It still has not closed the gap up it made back during the last week in June despite trying 3 times at the 61.8 Fib retracement level.
South African gold production has been in decline for a decade. Australian production is now down to its lowest in 10 years. The Indian central bank just announced an increase in its gold reserves. This is the beginning of the season for increased Indian gold demand. Turkey, a major importer, just keeps increasing the amount it imports. And, the AMEX's HUI index of mostly non-hedged gold and silver companies has been leading the gold price. The gold price breakout makes sense.
"The combination of artificially low interest rates, foreign central bank intervention, an irresponsible Fed, excessive credit availability, the proliferation of low or no-down payment, adjustable-rate, interest-only and negative-amortization mortgages, a can't-lose attitude among speculators validated by ever rising 'comps,' [comparables] the complete abandonment of lending standards, widespread corruption in the appraisal industry, rampant fraud among sub-prime lenders and the moral hazards associated with loan originators reselling loans to buyers of securitized products who perceive minimal risk and an implied government guarantee, has produced the mother of all bubbles." - Peter Schiff on the current real estate scene in the US


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It's been a busy summer, people. I got back from Oregon and hit the ground running with work, a book project (stay tuned!) and digging in on preparations for the 5th Annual Feast of Fermentation for the Boulder Food Rescue. It's happening on September 23rd, at the Avalon Ballroom. Last year was my first time cheffing the FoF, and it was such an amazing time, I'm doing it again. (And honestly, for as many years as they'll let me.)
In addition to some great local beers from the likes of Nighthawk Brewery and Montucky Cold Snacks, a homebrew competition sponsored by Boulder Fermentation Supply, a silent auction full of great items to bid on for any budget, and some highly danceable tunes from The New Family Recipe, my super talented (and a lot more organized than me) sous chef Elizabeth and I are developing taco bar and noodle bowl menus that are going to make your facehole so very happy. We'll utilize not only a TON of delicious fermented product like kim chi, sauerkraut, salsas and hot sauces from the excellent folks at Ozuke and McCauley Family Farm, but also bring in other products grown and produced by companies in and around the Boulder, Colorado area. Also, the Boulder County Farmer's Market has hooked us up with market dollars to round out the menu with gorgeous, local, farm fresh produce. You guys, if you've never gone on a full blown farmer's market shopping spree, let me tell you, it's 100% some of the most fun I've ever had with my pants on. And getting to turn all that lovely produce into yummies for hundreds of members of my community? Pinch me! So cool!
If you live in the Denver/Boulder area, please come join us! I promise you'll have a good time, and you'll support an organization that is passionate about reducing food waste and bringing nutritious food to low income residents in Boulder and Broomfield counties. Win-Win, right? Tickets are $45 for an all you can eat, all you can (safely) drink, dance your face off evening of fun. But, if you can round up 5 friends to go with you, the individual ticket price for each person in the group of six is $35.
If you don't live nearby, I'm not going to leave you empty handed. Behold! Instructions on how to put together your own quick, easy, and tasty noodle bowls. This should make enough for four large bowls.
Knife and cutting board
Measuring cups & measuring spoons
Blender or food processor
Large pot for boiling water or broth
Tongs for portioning everything into bowls
Small serving bowl and spoon for the sauce
For the Sauce:
1/4 cup peanut, almond, or cashew butter
3 tablespoons fresh ginger (the stuff in the tube is fine)
3 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
1/4 cup Mirin (rice wine vinegar)
A healthy pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
Additional salt to taste, if the soy sauce alone doesn't work for you
Puree everything together in a blender or food processor until all the ingredients are incorporated.
For the Noodles:
1 14oz box rice noodles
10 oz boiling water or broth, for extra flavor (veggie, chicken, mushroom, beef… whatever floats your boat)
3 peeled and crushed garlic cloves
Healthy pinch of salt
Bring the water or broth to a boil. Add the crushed garlic and the salt, cover, and remove from the heat. Let the garlic "steep" in the liquid for about 5 minutes, then remove. Add the noodles to the hot liquid and cover. They'll be soft enough to eat in 5-7 minutes.
The toppings:
Literally any combination of fresh veggies will work here, plus about 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup of your preferred protein, pre-cooked. If you're drawing a blank, here are some ideas:
Poached shrimp
Baked or grilled chicken, sliced
Sliced steak
Firm tofu, cubed or cut into matchsticks and sauteed
Julienne bell peppers
Sliced mushrooms
Bean Sprouts
Thinly sliced carrots
Snow peas
Sliced cabbage
Bamboo shoots
Sliced celery
Sliced jalapenos
Sliced greens (spinach, kale, mustard greens, beet greens)
Thin sliced green onions
Chopped nuts
Chow mein noodles
Crispy roasted chickpeas
I don't think there's a bad combination here, so go crazy kids!


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Sometimes it's nice to get away from your desk, take a leisurely drive to the bank, wait in line for a teller, and deposit your company's checks, then drive back to the office and catch up on what you missed while at the bank… It's not a problem if you get a couple checks in per week, but if you need to make deposits daily, that eats up a lot of work time! It's made worse by the fact that bank hours are our business hours too.
Remote check deposit allows you to deposit checks without physically getting them to the bank – no need to mail in checks or make a trip to the branch during banking hours. The process is super simple too: a check scanner creates an image of the check, submits it to your bank, and the check is processed and deposited to your account. Obviously, this makes life easier, but there are pros and cons to using this service.
Does Remote Deposit Make Sense?
Before you sign up for remote deposit, you should make sure it makes sense for your business. This service is best for businesses that process a high volume of checks. You can define that however you want, but more than about 25-30 in a month is generally a good threshold.
Why does check volume matter? Well, it typically costs money to sign up for your bank's remote deposit service – although free alternatives might be available, depending on your banking institution. More and more banks are starting to allow check deposits with a mobile phone or tablet at no cost (even for business accounts), so remote deposit only makes sense if a mobile device isn't sufficient for your needs.
Remote deposit is typically much faster than using a mobile device too, particularly when your depositing multiple checks at a time, so it might be well worth the money. Most banks are also putting monthly limits on how many checks you can deposit via a mobile device. For example, there's generally a maximum of 50 mobile deposits or $15,000, whichever comes first. Most businesses will surpass those limits quickly.
How does it work?
If you're ready to move beyond your mobile device, talk with your bank about remote deposit capture. Some banks offer a free trial period during which you can evaluate the service and see if it's worth the expense.
Once you're signed up, sit back while we get your check scanner hooked up to your computer. Generally, you'll just need to type in the amount of the check, and everything else will be read by the scanner. Scanning is extremely fast, so you can move through a pile of checks quickly – way faster than you could with a mobile device. Professional grade check scanners are also super reliable and have an extremely precise image quality so they're ideal for high-volume remittance processing, lockbox, and back-office/branch capture.
Once the check is scanned, the scanner sends an image of the check to your bank, and the bank collects funds using those images. You'll want to check with your bank regarding how long to hold onto any checks you've scanned.
How long does it take to process?
Something else to consider is the time of day you are depositing checks. If you need a little more flexibility (for example, you do a daily deposit every day at 6 p.m.) you might like to hear that one of the main benefits of a remote deposit service is that you can ignore "banking hours." Most banks allow you to process your checks late into the evening (until 10:00 PM or so in some time zones) to beat that day's deposit cutoff time, and often, your bank will make funds available to you within one business day.
If you're above that limit or you've decided that your time is worth more than the fee, give remote deposit a try. Contact Valley Office systems today for a more in-depth discussion, or check out our catalog of check scanners here.
Ready to Take Your Business to the Next Level?
It's all about having the right technology. Let Valley Office Systems help you find the right fit so your business can achieve new levels of productivity.[/cz_title]


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Monday, August 8, 2016
Crayola Brand Products Up to 50% Off Today (8/8) Only
This post may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure.
Today (8/8) only on Amazon save up to 50% Off select Crayola Brand products! Perfect for back to school and classroom prep! There are several deals to grab! Shipping is FREE on orders $49+ or with Amazon Prime!
You can get this case of Crayola Colored Pencils 12 Ct (Set of 24 Each) for only $22 (List $43.9) ~ that's only $0.92 each!
For live updates on postings "Like" us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter . For the FREE daily e-newsletter Subscribe Here to keep up with all the postings of freebies, coupons, discounts, and fun! at 8:58:00 AM
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Five more bears were tagged near the Southern Beaufort Sea coast last month, all in the western portion of the coast where Chukchi Sea bears are often encountered. They join the one female who seems to have made a den way out over the continental shelf, where she's been all winter.
This is the March 2016 follow-up to my post on the July 2013 track map for female polar bears being followed by satellite in the Beaufort Sea by the US Geological Survey (USGS) – "Ten out of ten polar bears being tracked this summer in the Beaufort Sea are on the ice."
Five tagged bears are relatively few compared to eight last spring, and thirteen in 2013 [added to 7 from the previous year for a total of twenty, which were down to 13 by June] but the same as five tagged in 2014. This spring, three of the USGS tagged bears have glue-on transmitters, which means they are either males or juvenile bears rather than females (which are fitted with collars):
"In collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service we are also experimenting with glue-on and ear tag satellite transmitters, which can be deployed on adult male bears and younger, still-growing bears."
See the map below – I see only four new icons near the coast near Barrow. But if you look closely (especially on the high resolution image at the USGS site), you can see that the 'tail' denoting the track of the bear with the bright pink icon is actually red, which means the red icon must be behind the pink one. The tracks of the blue and pink icons are obscured by the gold icon – you can see just the tip of the pink track peaking out at the base of the gold icon's track]
Sea ice thickness in the Beaufort Sea as of 8 April this year, according to NRLSSC (original here) is shown below:
That's a bit different than last year at this time, when there was thick, multi-year ice along the western portion of the coast and 2-3 m thick ice almost everywhere else:
Back in 2014, the pattern was different again, which shows how variable the ice can be in this part of the Arctic from one year to the next:


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Julie Chang Is Happily Married To Lief Drake ; Details of her Husband and Child here
Entertainment anchor Julie Chang most popular for her work on KTTV's Good Day LA and Fox 11 Morning News is a married woman now. She married her high school love, Lief Drake in 2014.
Entertainment anchor Julie Chang most popular for her work on KTTV's Good Day LA and Fox 11 Morning News is a happily married woman. She tied the knot to her high school sweetheart, Lief Drake in 2014.
The couple shares an adorable baby boy. So, today let us discuss the beautiful family life of Julie Chang.
Julie Chang Is Happily Married To Husband Lief Drake
"True relationship is about growing as a couple, learning about each other, and never giving up on each other" and Julie and Lief are a true example of a happy relationship.
Julie met Lief Drake for the first time in high school. Julie said,
"We went to rival schools in Ann Arbor. I was dating his best friend's older brother at the time. So he barely made eye contact with me!"
They went separate ways for college and after 15 years, she got a chance to reconnect with her childhood friends and there she met her future husband.
"Sparks flew, and we proceeded to see each other every single day until I moved to Los Angeles nine months later for work."
The couple started dating and after sometimes they tied the knot on 12 July 2014 at the Hammersky Vineyards. As it was an intimate ceremony few people including some close friends and family members attended the nuptial ceremony.
The couple is blessed with a baby boy but the name of the child is still not revealed.
I've never been so sad, yet, so happy at the same time. My little man is starting school this week. I knew the day would come when I would have to share him with more people, but that day came so fast and furious! One of the best parenting advice I got was from our cousin Joanna: your child is his own person...your job isn't to mold him into someone, but to usher his spirit. I'm so grateful that he was put in my path. He is my ultimate "comeback" health barometer & my greatest teacher & the kind of love I never knew existed. I can't wait to see his spirit thrive even further in this new setting! Onward and upward. #RainbowUnicornAndDriggs ??
The happy parents are enjoying their family life to the fullest as her little baby boy is almost ready to start his school.
Julie Chang's Struggle With Brain Tumor
KTTV's presenter was diagnosed with brain tumor in the month of September 2013. She came to know about the tumor when she underwent a CT scan following a surfing accident.
Good Day LA anchor Maria Sansone wrote for Fox 11,
"One of the difficulties in her road to recovery has been her eyesight. It's improving every day but it's definitely not 100%. But, trust me it's not holding her back! She's learned to roll with it."
'I always knew Julie was a shining star but now I'm convinced she's a superhero! Her attitude in all of this is simply unbelievable. We can all take a page out of Julie's book and not take one single day for granted!'
The star also explained,
"LA, thank you. If it wasn't for my move to Southern California, I would've never taken up surfing, which in a way, may have saved my life."
She underwent a major surgery in late November 2013. You can see the Instagram post of the diva over here:
Exactly 4 years ago today. This picture is my screensaver on my phone. It's a humbling reminder to never sweat the small stuff. Post surgery, I lost half my vision. It never came back & most likely won't. But since then, I've gained a family, my very first home, and the will to live my best life. I've said this before & I'll say it again: you don't have to see to have a vision. Don't wait for a life scare to do that for yourself. Give thanks & get after it! & to so many of you who still check in about my health, my deepest admiration. #braintumorsurvivor #grateful
As of now, Julie is happy and healthy and is enjoying every moment of her life with her husband and child!!!
Beautiful family!!!!!!!
Julie actually wanted Lief to move on in his life when she came to know about the brain tumor.
"I tried to set him free but he wouldn't have it. He proposed right there!"
Thankfully, after her full recovery, Lief proposed his lady love the second time in December 2013.
"We'd already been through the 'and sickness and in health' part, so of course, I said yes all over again!"
True love never falls apart!
Julie Chang; Quick Facts
Source: Miss Buttercup
- She was born in South Korea and later migrated to Ann Arbor, Michigan when she was just nine years.
- Has a height of 5 ft 5 in (1.65m).
- Completed her graduation from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in economics.
- Also attended Oxford University and studied Environmental Studies.
- Initially worked in the banking sector.
- She spent a semester at sea traveling to Cuba, Brazil, South Africa, Kenya, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Japan, and Hong Kong in 2000.
- Worked as a reporter for CW11 Morning News, WPIX.
- She received a New York State Associated Press Award and a 2007 Emmy nomination.
- Appeared in a fashion magazine New York Moves.
- Also portrayed a minor role in a movie named 'The Smurf'.
- Joined Fox 5 New York on 16 June 2008 until 12 September.


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Faculty Publication
Updated Editions of Departmental Publications Now Available
The updated versions of three key departmental publications – the Undergraduate Handbook, the Graduate Handbook, and the Guide to Independent Work (for Junior Papers and Senior Theses) – are now available as downloadable PDFs on the departmental website. The handbooks, a compendium of departmental information and FAQs, have been fully revised for the 2014–2015 academic year. Suggestions or corrections for future editions are most welcome and can be sent to the Departmental Manager.


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CIA Director David Petraeus resigns, cites affair
(CNN) -- David Petraeus stepped down as the director of the CIA on Friday, citing an affair.
"After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair. Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours," he said in a letter sent to colleagues.
"Teddy Roosevelt once observed that life's greatest gift is the opportunity to work hard at work worth doing. I will always treasure my opportunity to have done that with you and I will always regret the circumstances that brought that work with you to an end," he added in the letter.
A retired U.S. Army general who served as the top U.S. commander in Iraq and Afghanistan, Petraeus, 60, was sworn in as the head of the CIA in September 2011.
President Barack Obama accepted his resignation during a phone call Friday, according to a senior administration official.
The two men met Thursday. During that meeting, Petraeus offered his resignation to the president and explained the circumstances behind it, the official said.
"By any measure, he was one of the outstanding general officers of his generation, helping our military adapt to new challenges, and leading our men and women in uniform through a remarkable period of service in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he helped our nation put those wars on a path to a responsible end," Obama said about Petraeus.
"As director of the Central Intelligence Agency, he has continued to serve with characteristic intellectual rigor, dedication and patriotism."
The president expressed confidence the CIA will move forward under the direction of Acting Director Michael Morell.
Morrell, a career agency officer, was sworn in as deputy director of the CIA in May 2010.
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper issued a statement Friday confirming that Petraeus had turned in his resignation, saying his "decision to step down represents the loss of one of our nation's most respected public servants."
Rep. Peter King, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, praised Petraeus as a "true American patriot."
Petraeus and his wife, Holly, live in Virginia. They have two grown children, a son and a daughter.


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Alvin Goldman
Selected Publications
Selected Books
Joint Ventures: Mindreading, Mirroring and Embodied Cognition. Oxford University Press (2013; in press).
Reliabilism and Contemporary Epistemology. Oxford University Press (2012).
Simulating Minds: The Philosophy, Psychology, and Neuroscience of Mindreading. Oxford University Press (2012).
Pathways to Knowledge: Private and Public. Oxford University Press (2002).
Knowledge in a Social World. Oxford University Press (1999).
Epistemology and Cognition. Harvard University Press (1986).
A Theory of Human Action. Prentice-Hall (1970); Princeton University Press (1977).
Selected Articles
"A Moderate Approach to Embodied Cognition," Review of Philosophy and Psychology (2012).
"Systems-Oriented Social Epistemology," in Gendler & Hawthorne (eds.), Oxford Studies in Epistemology (2010).
"Philosophical Naturalism and Intuitional Methodology," Proceedings and Addresses of the American Philosophical Association (2010).
"Internalism, Externalism, and the Architecture of Justification," Journal of Philosophy (2009).
"Simulationist Models of Face-Based Emotion Recognition" (with C. S. Sripada), Cognition (2005).
"Experts: Which Ones Should You Trust?" Philosophy and Phenomenological Research (2001).
"Why Citizens Should Vote: A Causal Responsibility Approach," Social Philosophy and Policy (1999).
"Internalism Exposed," Journal of Philosophy (1999).
"A Priori Warrant and Naturalistic Epistemology," in Tomberlin (ed.), Philosophical Perspectives 13 (1999).
"Mirror Neurons and the Simulation Theory of Mindreading" (with V. Gallese), Trends in Cognitive Sciences (1998).
"Science, Publicity, and Consciousness," Philosophy of Science (1997).
"The Psychology of Folk Psychology," Behavioral and Brain Sciences (1993).
"Empathy, Mind, and Morals," Proceedings and Addresses of the American Philosophical Association (1992).
"Epistemic Paternalism in Law and Society," Journal of Philosophy (1991).
"Interpretation Psychologized," Mind and Language (1989).
"Foundations of Social Epistemics," Synthese (1987).
"What Is Justified Belief?" in Pappas (ed.), Justification and Knowledge (1979).
"Discrimination and Perceptual Knowledge," Journal of Philosophy (1976).
"Toward a Theory of Social Power," Philosophical Studies (1972).
"The Individuation of Action," Journal of Philosophy (1971).
"Actions, Predictions, and Books of Life," American Philosophical Quarterly (1968).
"A Causal Theory of Knowing," Journal of Philosophy (1967)


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In human tissue and mouse models, the researchers found PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) caused the constriction of blood vessels. If taken regularly, PPIs could lead to a variety of cardiovascular problems over time, including hypertension and a weakened heart. In the paper, the scientists call for a broad, large-scale study to determine whether PPIs are dangerous.
"The surprising effect that PPIs may impair vascular health needs further investigation," said John Cooke, M.D., Ph.D., the study's principal investigator. "Our work is consistent with previous reports that PPIs may increase the risk of a second heart attack in people that have been hospitalized with an acute coronary syndrome. Patients taking PPIs may wish to speak to their doctors about switching to another drug to protect their stomachs, if they are at risk for a heart attack."
Commonly used proton pump inhibitors in the United States are lansoprazole (below left) and omeprazole (below right),
and these drugs are purchasable over the counter as brands or generics. The FDA estimates about 1 in 14 Americans has used them. In 2009, PPIs were the third-most taken type of drug in the U.S., accounting for $13 billion in sales. PPIs are used to treat a wide range of disorders, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, infection by the ulcer-causing Helicobacter pylori, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and Barrett's esophagus.
Recent studies of proton pump inhibitors use by people who've already experienced severe cardiovascular events have raised concern about the anti-reflux drugs, at least for this subgroup of patients, said Cooke, chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and director of the Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center.
PPIs are initially inert. After oral consumption, they are activated by specialized cells in the stomach. Once active, the molecules suppress the movement of protons into the intestine, which reduces the amount of acid present there and in the stomach.
In mouse models and cultures of human endothelial cells, Cooke and lead author Yohannes Ghebramariam, Ph.D., found that PPIs suppressed the enzyme DDAH, dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase. That caused an increase in the blood levels of ADMA (asymmetric dimethylarginine), an important chemical messenger. They found ADMA in turn suppressed the production of another chemical messenger, nitric oxide, or NO, proven by 1998 Nobel Prize winners Furchgott, Ignarro, and Murad to impact cardiovascular function. Quantitative studies in mouse models showed animals fed PPIs were more likely than controls to have tense vascular tissue.
"We found that PPIs interfere with the ability of blood vessels to relax," said Ghebremariam, a Houston Methodist molecular biologist. "PPIs have this adverse effect by reducing the ability of human blood vessels to generate nitric oxide. Nitric oxide generated by the lining of the vessel is known to relax, and to protect, arteries and veins."
The researchers found PPIs led to an approximately 25 percent increase in ADMA in mouse and tissue cultures, and reduced the ability of mouse blood vessels to relax by over 30 percent on average.


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Hello, can you update this. All of the suspects have tasers instead of guns.
Hello, are you planning to make a LSPD and LSSD version? Would love to have all your packs in my game!
How easy/hard is it to make one of these? All I'm after is LSPD/LSSD/Beach/Airport/SAHP/Campus
@ProeliProcusi Sorry for the late response, I've only found this pack. To my knowledge, it's all base EUP. It's just finding the correct items, through Simple Trainer or Lamba Menu.
I am wondering, I want to add some addon vehicles into normal AI traffic, how do I do that?
Are you going to do a full West Merica pack? Such as Astras, ARVs, RTPC, Fire and Ambulance crews, and peds?
where did you get that old school fire engine?
Yet to use it, will however. Is there a possibility you could link a few more 90s vehicles? I can only really find modern vehicles. Vehicles like emergency vehicles, and commercial etc.01. červen 2020
Only reason the skin is low model cause his Texture quality in game setting isn't Very high. If someone had it, the +HI setting would change the skin to be higher quality.
Thanks for actually making a working model.31. březen 2020


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Most people were happy to see the John E. Fogarty Building torn down. The structure was a concrete box on Fountain Street. But Caroline Stevens appreciated those rows of gray window frames, and so did more than 30 others – so they arranged a "funeral," complete with an obituary, memorial poem, and a kazoo parade.
"We're trying to connect people to place," says Caroline, who founded Doors Open RI in 2017. "We're constantly trying to do new and interesting things."
As the Fogarty funeral proves, Doors Open RI isn't your boilerplate city tour; it's funky and experimental, and Caroline seems born for this role. A native of Washington, DC, Caroline lived for several years in Illinois, where she was hired to coordinate the first Open House Chicago. Caroline studied art history at Beloit College, and she has always loved scouting urban spaces; today, Open House Chicago incorporates hundreds of venues and draws tens of thousands of people.
"This model for citywide open house festivals is practiced around the world," says Caroline. "You try to think of a city as a museum."
The first Doors Open RI Festival invited participants to poke around Providence, such as the 200-year-old dome of the Beneficent Congregational Church. The second edition will take place in Pawtucket and Central Falls.
"I just wanted to explore a new place," says Caroline. "I think radiating out from Providence is a good strategy. Our name is Doors Open Rhode Island. I want to make good on the Rhode Island part."
This one-day festival will take visitors through both towns, and the stops are diverse: There's Slater Mill, of course, but there's also 238 Main Street, a long-abandoned commercial building with a glass dome. The festival will return to Providence in 2020, but Caroline loves to celebrate less-famous sites across the state, and more regularly.
"Usually these events are just the one annual festival," she says. "But I'm trying to build something that has other programs throughout the year."
Caroline herself looks forward to Cogswell Tower, a stone clock that rises out of a Central Falls hilltop. Completed in 1904, Cogswell looks like a castle wreathed in an iron grille.
"It's a tower that sits atop a natural grotto," says Caroline. "To me, this encapsulates what Doors Open is all about. It's just too cool." The Doors Open RI Festival takes place September 28 at various locations.
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Initially, once he's finished his Master's Degree in Medieval History, Ben wanted to do a PhD and so he could teach at a university. But the fees are too high. However the other week he met up with his old history teacher from school for a coffee. She told him about a new scheme available at some UK independent schools where you can train to teach on the job - a bit like the Government's Teach First scheme, but at a private school (with potentially less disruptive pupils). And - excitement, excitement - the other week The Dream Job came up: the chance to train as a history teacher at his old school! Wow and super-wow!!
Looking for information on eating disorders in boys? Worried that your son has an eating disorder? How can you tell if a boy has an eating disorder? In 2009 my 15-year-old son developed anorexia. Now, aged 28, he is recovered & studying psychology in order to help others. This blog tells the story of my son's recovery from anorexia as well as raising awareness of eating disorders in boys.
Tuesday 28 March 2017
Thursday 23 March 2017
"I no longer have to dread the calls in the middle of the night saying she is in hospital again after another overdose"
Kirsten has paid the highest possible price. She has lost her much-loved and beautiful daughter. She has received the news that every parent dreads - and, despite having to face the unthinkable, Kirsten wants to do her very best to prevent this happening to other families by speaking out.
Parents of eating disorder victims - the Biggest Fear of All
As you know I'm having EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapy for my Complex Post Traumatic Stress (C-PTSD). Unfortunately I've had to go private as the NHS is only permitted to offer 16 or so sessions and if you're not recovered in that time, then... well... to put it bluntly... you're out on your ear. Yesterday I came to the session with a whole raft of triggers that had occurred since the last time I was there (a fortnight before). Initially after our last session I'd felt elated and light - as if a great big thick cloud had been lifted and the sun had started to come in. I really felt that this was it: the EMDR was working - it was a miracle!
Wednesday 22 March 2017
Time to end mental health stigma
Following on from Rosie Flett's tragic death I pledged to blog here as regularly as I can to continue to raise awareness of eating disorders and mental health. To reinforce this pledge I 'made it public', if you like, on the Department of Health, Lottery and Comic Relief funded Time To Change website which is building a wall of pledges from people committed to ending mental health stigma. (If you haven't done so already, can I suggest that you make a pledge of some sort too?)
Friday 17 March 2017
A heartbreakingly powerful message about mental health
Sunday 5 March 2017
Can I make a request please? Can anyone who has bought my book and found it helpful please post a review on Amazon?
I don't make a fortune from my books on eating disorders, the most important of which is the account of our story: Please eat...: A mother's struggle to free her teenage son from anorexia which was published in 2013. In fact when you take into account the number of books I've given away for free and any royalties I give to charity, I barely break even. So...
The truth about what it's like to live with an eating disorder like anorexia
It's the end of Eating Disorders Awareness Week and earlier in the week one of my friend's daughters courageously wrote about what it's really like to live with an eating disorder like anorexia. I have her permission to share it with you below. Meanwhile I would like to thank this brave young woman for speaking out about something that was obviously very difficult for her to put into words, but she has done it admirably:
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The tree is about 400-600 years old and pretty cool
After a relaxing evening at the campground we went out to tour the Yorktown an aircraft carrier. I was here as a kid although my family can't remember eactly when.
The ship is huge and there are 6 walking tours so it takes the better part of an entire day to see.
We also took a walk around all of downtown Charleston and grabbed a coffee.


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"All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual."
– Attributed to Albert Einstein
Welcome back to this mini-series of articles reviewing the learning from the staff development day at the beginning of term three. If you missed the previous article, reviewing the keynote speech from Jane Caro (@JaneCaro), I highly recommend reading it, as it was a very engaging session. We had a short break for morning tea after Jane's talk, and came back to hear the main speaker for the day, who was actually conducting two sessions, either side of the midday break.
Michael Aulden was speaking to us under the title Angry – disruptive – lazy – Teaching restless boys, a topic which, in my mind, promised to be highly interesting. Michael's opening statement, that "[l]ife is a physical job…" saw many of the males in the room nodding their heads, myself included. My interpretation of this, combined with my personal experience of life, is that irrespective of whether you are involved in physical labour, life is a physical task. It is visceral, and feels more alive whenever we/I am engaged in some sort of physical activity, whether it be labouring in the yard, or running around as a football (soccer) referee. I find a strange satisfaction in physical tasks such as mowing the lawn, high intensity interval training or gutting the cupboards in the house in order to throw out the accumulated junk and resort things.
Michael then asked us to picture a male student that we know from our class and consider to be struggling, and to mentally describe his profile; name, areas of concern, and areas for success. Michael continued by offering some suggestions for making it easier for boys to engage, such as using music as a timing cue for the end of sessions. Michael suggested the theme from The Simpsons:
The reason for using music, rather than a verbal time warning such as "one minute left" is that many boys do not have a concept of time, and so the time warning holds no effect. In contrast to this, the majority of students know how long The Simpsons theme music lasts, and can use visualisations based on cues or signposts within the music to determine how much of the song has played. This can be beneficial for all students, but particularly the boys, in helping them to be aware of how long they have left before they are required to either be on task or packed up and back on the floor, or whatever the requirement is.
Boys struggle with, continued Michael, rules, concepts of time, reflection, expression of emotion and educational success for boys is strongly pillared on their self-esteem.This couples with Michael's opening point that life is a physical job, as boys, at five years old, when we send them off to "big school" and expect them to be able to conform to the requirements of sitting still, listening for long periods of time and completing a range of physical tasks which they are unfamiliar with, the research is showing they are less able to sit still, to listen, to concentrate to communicate and that they need variety, stimulation and physical activity. Going back to Jane's point about student well-being being the central aspect of education in Finland, boys in Finland are not required to start school until they are seven years old.. This comment brought about a few nods of agreement from the audience.
Michael then showed us part of a clip called A Tale of Two Brains by Mark Gungor, which talked about the difference between men's and women's brains, and therefore how they think. We only watched a short portion, but I have included the full clip below.
Michael also recommended that we access a copy of The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine and also the counterpart to that book, The Male Brain, by the same author.
It was about here that we broke for lunch and networking, and so it is here that I will stop for today's article. Thank you for reading, as always, and I would very much like to hear your thoughts on this topic via either the comments section or via Twitter.
View the list of articles in this series here.
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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Pakistan prosecutor in Bhutto case shot dead
Pakistan's main government prosecutor on the Benazir Bhutto murder case, in which ex-military ruler Pervez Musharraf is under house arrest, was shot dead in Islamabad on Friday, police said.
State prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar was shot multiple times by gunmen as he was driving to the next hearing in the murder case of the former prime minister, who was assassinated more than five years ago.
His bodyguard was also wounded in the attack and a woman killed when Zulfiqar lost control of his vehicle, police said.
"Chaudhry Zulfiqar was driving his car. He lost control and the car crushed a woman passer-by," Yousuf said.
"Zulfiqar was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries."
Police said the gunmen fled on a motorbike.
The attack happened in broad daylight in a busy street in a middle class neighbourhood.
The prosecutor had been on his way to appear before the anti-terrorism court hearing the Bhutto case in the neighbouring city fo Rawalpindi.
Nobody has ever been convicted or jailed for Bhutto's December 2007 assassination.
Musharraf's government blamed the killing on Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who denied any involvement and was killed in a US drone attack in 2009.
On Tuesday, Musharraf was placed under a two-week house arrest over charges that he conspired to murder the former prime minister, who was at the time campaigning for election.
Bhutto's son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who is chairman of the outgoing main ruling Pakistan People's Party, has accused Musharraf of her murder.
In 2010 a UN report said Bhutto's death could have been prevented and accused Musharraf's government of failing to give her adequate protection.


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International experts from the fields of energy, sustainability and education chose a shortlist of 34 finalists for the 2018 Zayed Future Energy Prize on Sunday and Monday during the third of a rigorous four-stage evaluation process. The finalists will now be discussed during a meeting of the prize's Jury at the end of this month, with the winners to be announced at the annual awards ceremony during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in January.
The finalists for the Non-Profit Organisation category are We Care Solar and Solar Sister that focus on expanding solar solutions and empowering women entrepreneurs in 'last-mile' communities, while SELCO Foundation finances renewable and sustainable energy systems for low-income households in India. For the Small and Medium Enterprise category, Sunna Design, BBOXX Ltd and 1366 Technologies were named finalists. They are representative of the expansion of the solar market through the creation of smart solar street lighting, solar home systems and utility services, and solar wafers using more cost and energy-efficient process respectively. Entries were evaluated against four criteria, including impact, innovation, leadership and long-term vision.
Director of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, Dr Nawal Al-Hosany, said: "The Prize acts as a catalyst for the advancement of renewable energy solutions by rewarding and recognising those who have implemented sustainable policies and practices. This year marks a significant milestone for the Prize as we celebrate a decade of awarding individuals, schools and organisations for their positive impact on the world. By working to make clean energy a cornerstone of sustainable development across the globe, the Prize is bringing to life the legacy of our nation's founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan."
Dr. Behjat Al Yousuf, Chair of Selection Committee, Interim Provost, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (part of Khalifa University of Science and Technology), added: "The footprint of the Zayed Future Energy Prize continues to grow every year and the calibre of entries is always outstanding, with technological innovation improving at an exceptional pace. This makes the judging process extremely competitive, and it is also at the same time rewarding to witness how innovative renewable energy is being embraced and implemented globally."
Simultaneously, the Global High Schools Committee also gathered over the two days to evaluate entries from high schools across the world, each of whom have their own vision for realising a clean energy project within their community. Entries received feature project proposals surrounding self-sufficiency as schools through rainwater harvesting and hydropower, harnessing solar power with the use of different types of batteries, and enhancing energy efficiency measures using green roofs or reflective films on glass windows. The deliberations from this committee resulted in 16 schools being selected as finalists from across five regions (Africa, The Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania).
"This year, we saw entries from more new countries for the Global High Schools category, indicating that young people around the world are engaged and in tune with the need for sustainable practices. The Zayed Future Energy Prize has created a strong momentum for engaging and moulding future energy leaders. This year, the entries received reflected an impressive breadth and depth of thinking to propose innovative projects that will increase sustainability among their communities," said Dr. Abdulla Ismail Alzarouni, the Chair of the Global High Schools Committee, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Assistant to the President, Rochester Institute of Technology Dubai.
The 10th cycle of the Zayed Future Energy Prize saw a doubling in numbers for UAE submissions and a 37 percent increase in all categories compared to 2016. Nominations for the Large Corporation and Lifetime Achievement categories yielded 1,113 entries, while the remaining 1,183 submissions were for Small & Medium Enterprise, Non-Profit Organisation, and Global High Schools categories.
The evaluation process will see finalists from the Selection and Global High Schools Committees progressing to be evaluated by The Jury at the end of October 2017.
In addition to Dr. Al Yousuf, the Selection Committee members are:
Alongside Dr. Alzarouni, the Global High Schools Committee includes:


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Monkey Shadow Box
{this post contains affliate links referencing products used}
If I come to your house and seem a little nosy or ask a lot of questions, , I'm just checking out your colors so I can create the best personalized project I can make of you. Just like this Monkey Shadow Box for my friend who happens to have a Monkey Nursery Theme, her walls are painted light green and also has green gingham ribbon on the walls holding up pictures. See, I told you I was nosy! Observant really.
The Monkey is cut with my Cricut using the Life's a Party cartridge. I cut my Monkey and layers are at 9 inches .
I used the font from the Birthday Cakes cartridge cut at 1 inches and layered to personalize the frame.
After all my dies were cut out and assembled, I adhered it inside a 12 x 12 Shadow box. using foam squares. I also added some more details on the Monkey using a Dot embossing folder, and Black Stickles . My friend loved her personalized gift and I was so happy to be able to create it for her too.
PS- you can always invite me to your wedding or baby shower and I'd love to make you something unique too!


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Mick Hume
The new authoritarianism
'The democratic process' has been redefined in the 1990s. It now means that Western governments can do whatever they want around the world. The impact of this new authoritarianism has been felt first in Eastern Europe and the third world. But it has serious implications for our lives, too.
Defending democracy has long been the avowed aim of British and American foreign policy. The West presented the Cold War as a confrontation between the Free World and Totalitarianism (despite the fact that the Free World included every pro-Western dictator in Africa, Asia and Latin America). Then Western commentators celebrated the collapse of the Soviet bloc as the start of a new age of 'people power' and global democracy. All of that is now finished.
Today the Western powers have a far freer hand to intervene in the affairs of other nations. Their right to do so is more widely recognised than it has been for a century. They no longer feel the same need to champion democratic structures in order to justify their interference abroad. Which is just as well for them, since it has become clear that international capitalism cannot sustain democracy in much of Eastern Europe and the third world.
When Western governments do pay lip-service to 'fighting for democracy' around the globe today, they mean something very different than is usually assumed. Democracy now means that the rulers of the democratic West will dictate what is best for the rest of the world. It means that the future of people everywhere from Bosnia to Somalia will be democratically decided according to how Bill Clinton, John Major and Francois Mitterrand cast their votes on the Security Council of the United Nations. People power, 1993-style, rests with the people with the power in Western capitals.
Elsewhere in this issue of
Living Marxism,
we detail some of the methods which the West is using to re-establish colonial-style control over Africa. They range from fixed elections to wars of subversion. There may now be a few more electoral contests than in the past. But in terms of who holds real power afterwards, the West always wins the election - even when it backs a loser.
Any Western intervention in the East or the third world can only be undemocratic, since it denies people control of their destiny, and invests authority over their affairs in Washington, Whitehall, Paris, Bonn and Tokyo. Yet in the uncritical political climate of our time, Western governments seem able to attach the label 'democratic mission' to any bit of bullying they do abroad, without fear of being seriously challenged at home.
The notion that the West knows what's best for the rest of the world has now become so deeply embedded that the authorities often feel no need even to pay lip-service to the importance of defending democracy in foreign lands. Instead there is a more explicit discussion among politicians and commentators about the
of democracy in unstable parts of the globe.
Today, prominent Western spokesmen imply that Russian president Boris Yeltsin should shelve democracy, abolish his difficult parliament, and force market reforms through by diktat like the Chinese regime. Indeed it often seems that the butchers of Tiananmen Square have become role models for good government. The West has already approved the assumption of dictatorial powers by president Lech Walesa of Poland, who suspended parliament after it dared to pass a motion of no-confidence in the government.
The underlying message is that democracy remains a good political system, but that many people in Eastern Europe or the third world are not yet good enough for it. These immature nations with their undeveloped political cultures cannot be left alone to exercise their democratic rights any more than a child can be left to play with matches. Instead they need proper supervision and a firm hand from their elders and betters in the West.
As crises and conflicts erupt around the world, the Western authorities are seeking to shift the blame away from the failures of global capitalism, and on to the shortcomings of the local peoples involved. That in turn becomes an argument for the West to intervene further and assume more authority, in order to sort out the mess made by Somali warlords or Cambodian butchers or the ethnic tribes of the Balkans. Wringing their hands about the inability of others to live with popular democracy, Western governments take a tighter grip on the lives of millions.
The new authoritarianism has been consolidated first and foremost in international affairs. A consensus has been created behind the right to intervene abroad. But these political trends will not halt at the gates of Western society. The new authoritarianism has serious implications here, too.
All of the debates about intervention, UN solutions and peace plans authored by retired British and US politicians are backed by the assumption that the Western authorities understand what is best for the peoples of, say, Bosnia or Cambodia, regardless of how those people vote or what aspirations they express.
But if we accept that our rulers know what's best over there, why shouldn't they assume that they know what's best here, too? If the British government is granted the right to ride roughshod over those people, what's to stop them trying the same approach to asserting their authority at home? The ease with which democratic rights can now be trampled around the world should send a warning signal about what is coming next within the West itself.
Behind the Conservative government's guff about classless societies and egalitarianism, there is already a dangerous undercurrent of social elitism in British political debate. And it is breaking through to the surface more and more often.
Note, for instance, the recent debate about whether a marginal group such as unmarried, unemployed mothers really deserves the full rights of citizenship (such as social security or NHS infertility treatment). Or the proposal that young people should be banned from holding raves without the express permission of the police. The increasing confidence with which many similarly contemptuous notions about ordinary people can be expressed these days is early evidence of how, having been steeled in international affairs, the new authoritarianism is creeping into British society.
Of course, there is a small problem here for the British authorities. They cannot abuse their own people in quite the same way as they treat foreigners. It is vital that they maintain a firm distinction in the public mind between the backward, inferior East and third world, and the civilised heartlands of Western capitalism - a preoccupation which is well illustrated by the current discussion about war crimes (
see page 14
). However, within those limitations, there remains plenty of scope for the government to bring the spirit of the new authoritarianism home.
For a striking illustration of what this means, take a look behind what, on the surface, appears to be one of the most boring issues in politics today; the Conservative government's opposition to the social chapter of the Maastricht Treaty and other related legislation coming out of the EC.
What are the Tories really saying in opting out of the social chapter, with its provisions on working hours, conditions and welfare?
Stripped of all the nationalist rhetoric about British sovereignty and not being bullied by Brussels, they are saying that they object to any attempt to give workers any rights whatsoever. They are saying that they want us to have no room to manoeuvre in dealing with the employers today. They are saying that working people ought to be available to be hired or fired at will, without the right to say no. It appears that the one freedom which the Tories do insist that employees must have is the freedom to work more than 48 hours a week. In other words, the new authoritarianism already extends into the workplace.
This fact was recently confirmed in a little-noticed case. At the end of April, the Court of Appeal ruled that it was illegal for two companies to penalise their workers financially for being members of a trade union. The government's immediate response was to tack an overnight amendment on to its latest anti-trade union bill in the House of Lords, to ensure that no court could ever again interfere with an employer's ability to blackmail his employees into submission. Tory spokesman Viscount Ullswater tore up and rewrote our rights in a display of aristocratic arrogance unseen since...well, since Lord Owen redrew the map of Bosnia.
The trend towards greater Western intervention is not just a problem for people in the third world, or for those concerned with international relations. It is a problem for us all. The anti-democratic assumptions underlying it are beginning to make their mark within our supposedly democratic British society. Ask the women pickets outside Timex, summarily sacked and surrounded by police, what they think of the citizen's charter.
Reproduced from Living Marxism issue 57, July 1993


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Subta Bottle Unloading and Leak Testing
Handle and test it. Motion Controls Robotics' SUBTA (Stand Up Bottle Take Away) is a pre-engineered robotic system designed for PET blow-molded bottle handling.
Motion Controls Robotics has the largest installed base of SUBTA robotic systems throughout the country, with many satisfied repeat customers. The company has developed SUBTA systems for most major molding machines including Nissei and Aoki.
This sets us apart by providing excellent service and technical expertise to all of our customers. The Robotic SUBTA system enables in-line automated PET bottle handling and unloading for coating, leak testing, case packing and bulk palletizing.
- For larger mold machines, the system uses the FANUC M-10iA or the M-20iA robot
- Systems that work with smaller mold machines use the smaller FANUC LRMate 200iC robot
SUBTA Video
Benefits of Bottle Unloading and Leak Testing
Easy to use
- Easy change over – system that rolls away from molding machine to allow for faster, easier mold changes
- Intuitive operation with pattern teaching
- Easy access door to bottle pick area to allow for adjustments
- Simple tooling for angled and/or tapered bottles
- Operator pendant for recipe adjustments and error reporting
Flexible and precise
- Handles single and double row mold configuration
- Inverts bottles to clean and de-ionize
- Operator can set any combination of bottles to "reject" due to failed cavity(s); robot will remove those bottles from system automatically
- Can handle up to 20 cavities
- Speed matching with take away conveyor – eliminates need for pneumatic take-away conveyor in many applications
- Built-in leak testing capability, no need for expensive separate leak test machine
- Precise, 6-axis servo-controlled system
- Faster changeover than fixed pneumatic bottle handling machines using quick change tooling and stored recipes
Reduced costs
- Labor savings of up to two people per shift
- Automated machine reduces worker compensation costs
- Reduced floor space requirements
- Cost competitive with fixed automation, with far greater flexibility and reliability
- Can be moved from one mold machine to another
- Tooling is interchangeable between SUBTAs
- Built-in operator pendant with stored recipes
- Menu selection for patterns
- Adjust pick and place positions, on-the-fly
- Stores recipes and allows for easy retrieval
- Hundreds of part recipes to maintain part data such as part description pick, place locations and vacuum pattern
Increased throughput
- High reliability and uptime 80,000 hours mean time between failures
- Faster cycle times than most mold machines
- On-the-fly leak detection


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- An embryonal tumor of the autonomic nervous system.
- Most likely arises from a precursor cell derived from neural-crest tissues.
- The most common solid tumor of infancy and the most common extra-cranial solid tumor of childhood.
- One of the few cancers known to undergo spontaneous regression from an undifferentiated state to a benign tumor
Neuroblastoma can be very difficult to cure in older children.
Neuroblastoma accounts for 8 - 10% of childhood malignancies. However, it accounts for 15% of cancer deaths in children.
In Canada the James Fund for Neuroblastoma research was established:
Band of Parents bound by hope is a US association founded by parents of children with neuroblastoma to fund research and provide support for families affected by this disease:


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Hello Pixel and Pixel XL, goodbye Nexus. These new phones are made by Google, designed by Google, and manufactured by Google — although, technically HTC is the company making them. These are Google phones through and through, as you can see no branding other than the "G" Google logo in the back.
Unlike the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X, these Pixel phones are top-shelf devices with premium features, and they come to the market to compete head-to-head with Samsung Galaxy and Apple's iPhone (and if you look closely they even look a little bit like the iPhone 7).
Pixel variants
The new Google phone comes in two variants, including the 5-inch (Pixel) and the 5.5-inch (Pixel XL), and both handsets sport most of the same hardware specs.
Pixels are available in three colors, including "very silver," "quite black," and there is also the "really blue" color option, but it's only limited to the U.S. market initially.
Pixel design
The handsets feature an aluminum unibody design, and on the back of the phone, you'll notice two types of finish: A metal finish on bottom and a glossy "glass shade" with a coat of Gorilla Glass 4 to make it scratch resistant (but it's a fingerprint magnet) on the top, which also helps the antennas get better reception. In addition to the rounded edges that helps to make it less slippery.
Pixel tech specs
|Pixel XL
|5.0 inches
FHD AMOLED at 441ppi
2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4
|5.5 inches
QHD AMOLED at 534ppi
2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4
|5.6 x 2.7 x 0.2 ~ 0.3 inches
143.8 x 69.5 x 7.3 ~ 8.5 mm
|6.0 x 2.9 x 0.2 ~ 0.34 inches
154.7 x 75.7 x 7.3 ~ 8.5 mm
|2,770 mAh battery
Standby time (LTE): up to 19 days
Talk time (3g/WCDMA): up to 26 hours
Internet use time (Wi-Fi): up to 13 hours
Internet use time (LTE): up to 13 hours
Video playback: up to 13 hours
Audio playback (via headset): up to 110 hours
Fast charging: up to 7 hours of use from only 15 minutes of charging
|3,450 mAh battery
Standby time (LTE): up to 23 days
Talk time (3g/WCDMA): up to 32 hours
Internet use time (Wi-Fi): up to 14 hours
Internet use time (LTE): up to 14 hours
Video playback: up to 14 hours
Audio playback (via headset): up to 130 hours
Fast charging: up to 7 hours of use from only 15 minutes of charging
|Operating System
|Android 7.1 Nougat
|Aerospace-grade aluminum unibody
Glass shade with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4
|Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 821 (MSM8996 pro)
Quad Core 2x 2.15GHz / 2x 1.6GHz
100000:1, super contrast ratio
True black level
Full 24-bits depth or 16.77 million colors
Less than 40% brightness decrease at 30 degree viewing angle
|1080p @ 30fps, 60fps, 120fps
720p @ 30fps, 60fps, 240fps
4K @ 30fps
|Front-facing Camera:
Large 1.55μm pixels
Phase detection autofocus + laser detection autofocus
f/2.0 Aperture
Back-facing Camera:
1.4µm pixels
f/2.4 Aperture
Fixed focus
|Single bottom-firing speaker
3 Mics
Noise Suppression
|Supports up to CAT 12 (600Mbps DL / 75Mbps UL) depending on carrier support
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2x2 MIMO
Bluetooth 4.2
|Proximity / ALS
Accelerometer / Gyrometer
Pixel Imprint – Back-mounted fingerprint sensor for fast unlocking
Hall effect sensor
Android Sensor Hub
Advanced x-axis haptics for sharper / defined response
|USB Type-C 18W adaptor with USB-PD
18W charging
|Ports and Slots
|USB Type-C
3.5mm headset jack
Single Nano SIM
|Quite Black
Very Silver
Really Blue
|In Box
|USB Type-C™ 18W adaptor with USB-PD
A-C cable (USB 3.0)
C-C cable (USB 2.0)
SIM tool
Quick switch adapter
Features only on Pixel
There are a few features that set the Pixels apart from the rest, and even from other Google phones. Perhaps the most important feature is that they are currently the only devices including Google Assistant out-of-the-box, which is Google's answer to Apple's Siri, Microsoft's Cortana, and even Amazon's Alexa, and it comes preloaded with Android 7.1 (Nougat).
Pixel owners can also store every photo and video captured with these phones with their original resolutions for the life of the device, meaning never running out of space anymore even when recording 4K videos.
If you ever need help, a Google technician can quickly remote into your phone to offer support.
Google is also proud to ship Pixel with a 3.5mm headphone jack — unlike the iPhone 7.
Pixel camera
According to the company the 12-megapixel camera is the best camera on a mobile device with an overall DxOMark Mobile score of 89, which is high number and huge deal. People using these phones will notice no more delays when rotating the phone to take pictures on portrait or landscape, and after autofocus.
Then there is the front-facing camera which features an 8-megapixel sensor, and rotating the phone back and forth will switch back and front-facing camera.
Pixel battery life and ports
The Pixels sport the updated version of USB Type-C port for data transfer and charging. You can't remove the battery, but you should get up to 13 hours of battery life surfing the internet and watching videos on the Pixel, and about 14 hours on the Pixel XL. Google also claims that a 15 minutes charge will give you up to 7 hours of battery life.
While the Pixel phones will do a pretty decent job when it comes to water resistance, but they're only rated to IP53, which are not as good as the other phones like the ones from Apple and Samsung.
How to get a Google Pixel
Pixel pricing starts at $649 for the 32GB, and then goes up to $749 for the 128GB, and $769 and $869 for the Pixel XL.
You can pre-order the phones now unlocked from the Google Store, or in the United States, you can also get them exclusively on Verizon. Keep in mind that if you purchase the phone from Verizon, the company will control updates roll out, not Google. This means that you may not get new features and improvements as soon as Google releases them.


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"Appreciate the mammoth effort... many thanks again to the whole Carter team."
A key provider of training and certification of GPs in Western Australia. WAGPET's services include assisting of a range of medical professionals in obtaining placements in the community, eLearning and running in classroom teaching.
We wanted to ensure that their site was an extension of their offering, delivering value to its current and prospective students.
Several key factors were identified which would ensure the success of the digital strategy.
Forms are a central connection between all services the organisation meaning integration with CRM, Payment gateways, Learning platforms were required as well as a robust CMS allowing for internal management.
A digital strategy was formulated with a focus on ensuring WAGPET's message reaches, and engages with, its target market by identifying the digital platforms and styles of digital delivery that are most highly engaging for the target audience.
Reach and accessibility was maximised utilising coding focused on compliance with WCAG guidelines including around Accessibility, Level 2 (AA) Guidelines as per Commonwealth Government digital accessibility requirements and on improving natural search engine optimisation (SEO).
Allow for detailed ongoing analysis of digital performance through creation of specific measurable benchmarks and implementation of digital metric tools such as Google Analytics and Facebook Insights.
The diverse audience groups catered to, although sharing the common goal of becoming a GP, require a wide range of information and have diverse range of paths to arrive at their qualification. To this end a considered, clear information architecture which clearly signposted access, via multiple pathways to a complex set of pages of information, forms and resources was implemented. By building the site to be responsive to multiple devices and screen sizes visitors are able to reach their desired content wherever and whenever required.
- EKP – Learning Management System
- Microsoft Sharepoint
- Aptean, Pivotal – CRM
- Google analytics
Responsive Website Design — The Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne
Changing the way we design our communities — Heart Foundation
Digital in healthcare for medical professionals, patients and communities — Mercy Hospital
Mobile friendly website — LaTrobe Community Health Service
Australia Strategy, Customer & Digital Experience — Heart Foundation


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I never went to my high school prom. Not that I'm all 'boohoo' about it (graduating early and high-tailing it out of Midwest America was a fair trade), but I do feel like I jipped myself out of a fun night in a sparkly dress.
As an adult, I get especially excited about spending a formal evening with friends…and sparkles (no doubt thanks to the promlessness of my youth). In fact, when it comes to special occasions, my first port of call is always prom dress websites.
Let's just lay it out there: this dress was a given from the first click. Though style 'gurus' say pale girls shouldn't wear 'nude' or 'skin' colours, it is my favourite rule to break. The colours, beading, sheer panels, and swing skirt were exactly what I was looking for.
What I Wore:
'8518' Sherri Hill cocktail dress from Rissy Roo's
Custom-made heels from The Colour Studio


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Hawks win, doves pay for being odd
In a crowd, looking different can be dangerous, at least if you're a pigeon.
A new study from Oxford University has examined the so-called 'oddity effect,' in which predators preferentially attack different-looking individuals within a prey group - presumably because it enables them to focus on a single target within a confusing, moving mass.
To test whether this hunting strategy actually pays off for the predator in terms of enhanced reproductive success, Christian Rutz of Oxford University's Department of Zoology studied urban goshawks preying on feral pigeons in the city of Hamburg, Germany.
A report of his research is published in Current Biology.
In feral pigeons, most individuals are grey-blue but many flocks contain a few white birds.
'Goshawks are specialist bird hunters, and in urban environments, their preferred prey is the feral pigeon,' says Christian. 'When attacked by a raptor, pigeons seek safety in numbers and form a tight flock. Goshawks struggle to single out a suitable victim in such flocks, but by focussing on an odd-coloured individual, they seem to be able to enhance their attack success.'
But, Christian explains, like other skills this hunting strategy is something young birds have to learn: 'Male goshawks apparently hone their hunting skills over their first few years of life. As they get older, they become not only better pigeon hunters in general, but they also get increasingly selective for odd-coloured individuals.'
Importantly, the study found that those hawks that master this selective attack strategy are the best breeders:
'An efficient hunter can provide a lot of food to their offspring,' Christian comments. 'In goshawks, the most selective pigeon hunters initiate their clutches very early in the season and raise young of excellent body condition.'
This finding leads to an intriguing question: why doesn't this selective hunting drive rare white pigeons to extinction?
'Feral pigeons apparently prefer to mate with partners who are of a different colour to themselves,' Christian notes. 'Thus, white pigeons may risk paying the 'ultimate price' for being conspicuous, and get killed by a hawk, but they are preferred mating partners of their much more common grey-blue counterparts and seem to enjoy reproductive advantages whilst alive.'
The work may encourage studies in other species to move beyond simply recording success rates in predators attacking swarming prey, to examine explicitly how different attack strategies may affect a predator's reproductive performance.


text: teachers Archive Exploring personal politics in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Author: Spencer Green | Jan272017 Categories: Fiction, Reading No comments The sinister Jean Brodie continues to bewitch: decades after the publication of the novel that bears her name, the myth of her humanism persists; she has long been shorthand for a strain of idealism and independent thought that she never represented in the first place. The Prime of Miss Literary Teachers and Their Lessons Author: Clare Beams | Oct012015 Categories: Reading No comments I have a new teaching job this fall, and so I've been thinking even more than usual about classrooms, and teachers, and the hold they have on our imaginations. It's strange to realize, right before I walk into a classroom to teach, how clearly I can remember most of


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Leaders who forget the big picture end up lost in the weeds. Without perspective, urgencies prevail.
Getting things done gets in the way, when it's time to see the big picture.
Successful leaders work on the way work gets done.
5 reasons the big picture matters:
The big picture:
- Reminds you of the importance of others. You can't get there alone.
- Provides focus and direction.
- Gives meaning to details.
- Explains success and failure. The big picture lifts leaders out of the weeds.
- Enables course correction.
Seeing the big picture includes observing, describing, and working on relationships processes, and procedures.
10 ways to reconnect with the big picture:
- Manage by wandering around. Your office is the enemy of seeing the big picture.
- Disengage from what needs to be done. Observe what is being done.
- Take yourself out of the equation. Assign your role to someone else for an hour, day, or longer if possible. Observe people in action.
- See what happens when you stop telling people what to do.
- Slip to the side when people are interacting. Watch.
- Stop thinking about how things are supposed to be done. Judging prevents open observation. Accept things as they are, not as you wish they were. Stop thinking about changing things, at least momentarily.
- Ask an outside to observe and describe your organization. Choose someone:
- With candor.
- Without an agenda.
- With the ability to describe. You don't need explanations. You need descriptions.
- Explore, don't contest, their descriptions.
- Ask yourself, "What's making things easy/difficult?" Better yet, ask yourself, "Who is making things easy/difficult?"
- Create handwritten profiles of key people and how they add value or block progress.
- Schedule "big picture" time, at least once a week.
What happens when leaders lose sight of the big picture?
How might leaders see the big picture?


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I have attested that meditation, in and of itself, does not bring spirituality. However it is essential to walking in the spirit which does bring spirituality.
The following can be found in Gilbert Carpenter's "Watches, Prayers and Arguments" given to students by Mary Baker Eddy:
"I ask you to keep a time for meditation every day. Ponder in thought your infinite, harmonious, Christ-expressing self-hood and claim it as you. Drink in its perfection, its moral beauty, its integrity, worth, its unspeakable safety; all the truth and beauty of God's creation is yours and you. Enjoy it in sincere prayer and thanksgiving. Preserve your human sense of yourself rightly by dwelling in a definite treatment every day, within the sanctity and integrity of your real self-hood.
In that hour of prayer, discard all your sense of self-hood - that is involved in the belief of birth, heredity, association, time, decay, death. By the grace and authority of God close your thought firmly against the interference of mortal beliefs. Hold yourself open to the plan of God and closed to the plots of satan. Rise into the spiritual forces of your own being and destiny.
This magnificent spiritual exercise of treating yourself in devoted prayer and praying for yourself will keep you in the secret place which is unknown to the senses and open to all heaven holds for you. And safe! The secret place of right understanding of yourself - Himself reflected - is as safe as eternity."


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The 'Everything is Bad' party
The debate made it official: For the GOP, Morning in America is now Darkness at Noon.
America's potential, said Carly Fiorina, is being "crushed." America's military, said Marco Rubio, is being "eviscerated." Working people, said Mike Huckabee, are "taking a gut punch." The idea of America, said Bobby Jindal, is "slipping away."
Donald Trump, as usual, went even further: "We don't have a country."
Last night's Republican debate in the Reagan Library was not about Morning in America. It was more like Darkness at Noon. Jeb Bush did call for the party to embrace a Reaganesque sense of optimism, which he contrasted with "the Donald Trump approach of 'Everything is bad, everything is coming to an end." But with occasional exceptions, usually involving the softer-edged John Kasich, the Trump approach dominated. For five hours, the candidates stood in front of Reagan's plane and described America as a declining nation in a dystopic world, as they pledged, to borrow a phrase, to Make America Great Again.
The big question of 2016 could well be whether Americans agree with the Republican portrait of Obama-era malaise. It was taken for granted last night that the national debt is out of control, the economy is deteriorating, the government is corrupt, and the world, as Lindsey Graham put it, is "on fire." Rubio complained that "our left-wing government is undermining all the institutions that support the family." Ted Cruz declared that the Iran nuclear deal would turn the Obama administration into the world's largest financier of Islamic terror. Chris Christie said the middle class "is getting plowed over by Barack Obama." The one thing the Republicans didn't seem too concerned about was climate change, which they agreed was not a problem worthy of solutions that might increase utility bills at a time when average Americans, as Rick Santorum put it, "are losing ground."
Obama provided an alternative view yesterday before the debate, making the case before the Business Roundtable that "America's great right now." He later tweeted some supporting evidence that wasn't mentioned last night on CNN: U.S. businesses have added 13 million jobs over 66 straight months of employment growth, with the jobless rate dropping from 10% to 5%. The budget deficit has fallen from nearly 10% of GDP to less than 3% under Obama, while the uninsured rate has fallen from 15.4% to 9.2% under Obamacare. The U.S. auto industry, on the brink of extinction before Obama's bailout, is on pace for its best year since 2001.
But last night wasn't really about evidence, although several candidates did mention that wages are stagnant, and Bush noted the "labor participation rate" has been declining since 1977. There was a consensus on stage that illegal immigration is a national crisis—an "incredible problem," said Ben Carson—even though the population of undocumented immigration has actually declined by about 1 million under Obama. Carson also bemoaned how little has been done to push oil independence; in fact, oil imports from the Middle East just hit a 28-year low. Listening to Graham, Rubio and Fiorina decrying the weakness of the military and the need for a much larger navy, a listener never would have guessed that the U.S. spends five times as much as any other country on defense.
There was some debate about the Iraq War, and Trump mentioned the financial cataclysm of 2008, but some of the candidates openly pined for the good old days of George W. Bush. It wasn't just Jeb who credited his brother with keeping the country safe; Christie added that Obama had stripped away that safety, even though the September 11 attacks were on Bush's watch, and nothing similar has happened since. Fiorina actually seemed to suggest the economy was better when Lehman Brothers was collapsing in September 2008, suggesting that "in seven short years the president has stolen our belief that our children will have a better future."
The doom and gloom was especially intense around foreign affairs, with general agreement that, as Jeb Bush put it, "this administration has created insecurity the likes of which we never could have imagined." Rubio threw around words like "apocalyptic" to describe the danger of Obama's nuclear deal. There were numerous references to the danger that ISIS poses to the American homeland. Trump asked why no one seemed to be worrying about the North Korean threat.
"This world," he summed up, "is a mess."
In this woe-a-thon, it was interesting to hear Kasich talk about his desire to give people "a sense of hope, a sense of unity, a sense we can do it," he said. He sounded more genuinely Reaganesque than Bush, who talks about running a joyful campaign the way unhappy people often telling their friends how happy they are.
But for now, the Republican Party is Trump's party, and it was amusing to watch also-rans like Bobby Jindal try to play Trump on TV. Jindal described an America where illegal immigration is a national nightmare, where anti-Christian discrimination is a national epidemic, and the Republican Party—which has failed to defund Planned Parenthood or block the Iran Deal—is a national disgrace.
On that last point, at least, Obama probably agrees.