text:
NATO and Partner Countries discuss New Challenges to Global Security
About 200 experts from NATO and partner countries gathered in Brussels on 28 November 2011 for the first conference on "New Challenges to Global Security" organised by NATO's new Emerging Security Challenges Division.
"Many of these challenges cannot be kept at bay by the mere threat of military retaliation; and many require a much stronger focus on prevention and on enhancing the resilience of our infrastructure", said the head Emerging Security Challenges Division, Assistant Secretary General Gabor Iklódy, welcoming participants from NATO and partner countries and from academic institutions.
The conference was an opportunity for security matter experts to look closely at the new Division's agenda, ranging from threats to cyber networks and international terrorism to securing energy supplies and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. During the discussions, participants encouraged NATO's Emerging Security Challenges Division to expand partnerships and enhance capabilities in dealing with modern threats. Assistant Secretary General Iklódy noted the importance of working together with partners and said that with regard to emerging challenges, "NATO will either be a team player, or it will be no player at all".
The conference was sponsored by the Alliance's "Science for Peace and Security" Programme and Carnegie Europe.


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Shiina Aki is constantly being treated like a girl due to his feminine looks so he decides to move to Tokyo to attend middle school in an attempt to change himself. However what awaits him in his new home, Sunohara-sou, is the kind-hearted caretaker, Sunohara Ayaka. Along with the three female members of Aki's new middle school's student council, Yukimoto Yuzu, Yamanashi Sumire & Kazami Yuri. And so begins Aki's new life in Tokyo living with 4 girls.
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Shoma Mihara is a first-year high school student. Shoma hasn't seen his good friend Atsushi in 3.5 years, ever since they lost contact with each other after elementary school. One day, Atsushi gets in contact with Shoma to invite him to a rare festival, so they can meet up and talk. Shoma goes to the 'Tanabata Seven Night Festival' deep in the mountains, but Atsushi is not there. Instead, a girl named Shiori who also has a person she wants to meet is there. The festival's program manager Kanna suggests that he stay until the festival is over, and so Shoma and Shiori help Kanna prepare for the festival. Shoma and Shiori then get wrapped up in some strange events happening in the town.
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A tranquil tale about two boys from very different upbringings. On one hand you have Kai, born as the son of a prostitute, who's been playing the abandoned piano in the forest near his home ever since he was young. And on the other you have Syuhei, practically breast-fed by the piano as the son of a family of prestigious pianists. Yet it is their common bond with the piano that eventually intertwines their paths in life.
- Aru Zombie Shoujo no Sainan (Sub) Latest: Episode 001
Late night at Kikka University when all the students have gone home for summer break. However, five girls who are members of the Occult Research Club have not gone home. Calling it 'the first cool of the evening quest', the girls have decided to investigate a rumor about the Tokugawa buried treasure and sneak into the university's data warehouse. What they find is not the rumored treasure, but rather, two extremely well-preserved mummies of two young girls. Sayaka Kamoshida, who is the one to originally get her friends to sneak with her into the warehouse, secretly steals the mysterious 'stone of life' that was placed inside both of these mummies. Disappointed in the outcome of not being able to find the hidden treasure, they leave the data warehouse. The theft of the 'stones of life' is actually the trigger to resurrect these two mummies. One of the resurrected girls was the daughter of a former Baron, who, due to an unexpected incident, became an undead being via magic. Her name is Euphrosyne Studion. The other is Euphrosyne's maid Alma V, who was created from a homunculus. Now, the two girls attack the members of the Occult Research Club in order to get the stolen stones back. Can the members of the Occult Research Club survive this development? Also, why were the stones of life stolen? A bloody tragedy of the late-night student dormitory attacks…
- Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Love! Season 3 (Sub) Latest: Episode 012
In the northern Kanto area in Japan, there is Binan City… At Binan High School, as per usual, the "Earth Defense Club (lol)" was a club that did nothing. The club members Kyoutarou Shuzenji, Ryouma Kirishima, Nanao Wakura, Taishi Manza, and Ichiro Dogou nonchalantly enjoyed tea while having pointless conversations that amount to nothing. All of them have now gathered at Kurotama Bath after school. Microsoft project 2013 full crack. When Ryouma pulls Kyoutarou Shuzenji by his arm out of water that he claims feels too good, together with his towel comes a pretty boy in strange clothing. These five boys are then dragged into a battle for the heir of the magical kingdom, Honila Land..
- Dorei-ku The Animation (Dub) Latest: Episode 012
What if you could enslave anyone you ever wanted? Well, this comes close. The SCM lets you enslave anyone who is also wearing an SCM, at a price. One must win over the other, at the cost of anything, in order for the other to become their slave.
- Butlers: Chitose Momotose Monogatari (Sub) Latest: Episode 012
The anime centers on two protagonists. Koma Jinguji (Jay) is the smart and handsome student council president. His elegant smile captures the hearts of women. Tsubasa Hayakawa is a multi-talented and gentle shop assistant at a café. His cafe latte with owl latte art is very popular with female customers. The two men travel through time to fight their archenemy. The charming 'Butlers,' as they are called, fight supernatural battles and also experience a slapstick comedic life at their academy.
- Shokugeki no Souma: San no Sara - Toutsuki Ressha-hen (Sub) Latest: Episode 012
The second cour of Shokugeki no Souma season 3.
- Caligula (Sub) Latest: Episode 012
Mobius is a perfect digital world for the imagined benefit of humanity by μ, a virtual idol program that attained sentience and self-awareness. Only humans who are suffering in the real world and strongly relate to μ's songs are lured into Mobius. Once they enter, people often forget that the real world exists. Regardless of age or gender, they are turned into students and forced to experience school life over and over, which μ considers 'the most radiant time in a person's life.'
- Nil Admirari no Tenbin: Teito Genwaku Kitan (Sub) Latest: Episode 012
The Taishou era didn't end in 15 years, but went on for another 25. In order to protect her waning family, a girl resolves to marry a man she doesn't even know the name of. However, just before the marriage was to take place, the girl's younger brother mysteriously committed suicide by self-immolation and was found holding an old book in his hands. Appearing before the bewildered young girl was the 'Imperial Library Intelligence Asset Management Bureau,' more commonly referred to as 'Fukurou.' According to these men, there exists 'Maremono,' which are books that greatly affect their readers. On top of that, ever since the incident involving the girl's younger brother, she unwittingly gains the ability to see 'Auras' (the sentiments of the Maremono which manifest as bright lights and are usually invisible to humans). It was as though fate were trying to drag the young girl in its flames. And then, even though apprehensive, the girl chooses to venture outside her bird cage. Jealousy, hatred, scorn, compassion, and love. What awaited the girl was the darkness of betrayal that had already begun to bewitchingly inlay the imperial capital. Toyed by and swayed within that darkness, will the young girl finally reach the truth after her struggles, or..?
- Future Card Buddyfight X: All-Star Fight (Dub) Latest: Episode 008
The Gao Genuine Gameface Tournament, otherwise known as the GGG Cup, is underway after a lull action after the defeat of Wisdom and his ambitions. Famous fighters and monsters from across the worlds are invited to participate in the many events and, for the special ones, compete in the matches of the tournament.
- Future Card Shin Buddyfight (Sub) Latest: Episode 004
The sixth season of Future Card Buddyfight featuring Gao Mikado's son.
- Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii (Sub) Latest: Episode 011
After discovering that they work at the same company, a gaming crazed otaku and a fujoshi reunite for the first time since middle school. After some post-work drinking sessions they begin dating, but will it be a perfect relationship for the two?
- Rokuhoudou Yotsuiro Biyori (Sub) Latest: Episode 011
Four men—Gure, Sui, Tokitaka, and Tsubaki—each help run a Japanese tea shop together called Rokuhoudou. When one visits the shop, they are greeted warmly, is served with tea, and are often helped with any problems they may have.
- Mahou Shoujo Ore (Sub) Latest: Episode 012
This story is about a 15-year-old girl who is a newbie idol in love with her best friend's brother who is also a popular idol. But she runs into a scary yakuza guy and finds out that her mother was an ex-magical girl, and the yakuza was her mascot. Her love interest gets kidnapped by demons that look like burly men with cute squirrel heads. So she contracts the yakuza to become a magical girl, which in this story means she turns into a handsome guy in a magical girl outfit. On top of that, her love interest shows an attraction toward her magical guy form. Her best friend turns out to be in love with her and also becomes a magical cross-dressing guy to save her life. Thus, their manager, who is a magical girl geek, then decides to turn them into an idol unit.
- Cardfight!! Vanguard 2018 (Dub) (Dub) Latest: Episode 004
The new season embarks on a new story with Aichi and Kai returning to take up the helm as main protagonists. Interpol turn on the bright lights. The audience will also find many beloved characters such as Misaki Tokura, Kamui Katsuragi and Ren Suzugamori appearing in this season.
- Inazuma Eleven: Ares no Tenbin (Sub) Latest: Episode 011
Inazuma Eleven Ares will be set in a parallel world, taking place after the events of the first game, and develop the story from the perspectives of three protagonists—Ryouhei Haizaki, Asuto Inamori, and Yuuma Nosaka. The story revolves around a group of boys living on an island who love to play soccer. Their soccer club is suddenly abolished, and the only way they can regain it is to win the Football Frontier. Protagonist Asuto Inamori and company leave the island for Tokyo to attend Raimon Junior High School and take on the Football Frontier. But their first match is against the number one-ranked Seishou Gakuen.
- Juushinki Pandora (Sub) Latest: Episode 002
The new series is set in a near-future world where the boundary between human being and AI is vague. A rapid biological evolution, similar to 'Cambrian Explosion,' is caused by one incident. This incident turns into the genesis of a new jostle for supremacy, and the influence of the evolution goes beyond biological framework and spreads to various kinds of materials and technologies. The era of massive evolution involving diverse existences, such as human, machines, and biotechnologies, is coming. Characters fight an existential war in such a world.
- Everlasting Immortal Firmament 2nd Season (Sub) Latest: Episode 005
The second season of Wangu Xian Qiong.
- Citrus (Dub) (Dub) Latest: Episode 012
Fashionable Yuzu imagined the first day at her new school she transferred to after her mother's remarriage a bit differently; she didn't know it'd be an ultra-strict and conservative girls' school. So instead of a sweet high-school romance, she butts heads with the stern student council president Mei—who turns out to be her new step sister. And she has to learn that hate and attraction are often not that far apart.
- Citrus (Sub) Latest: Episode 012
Fashionable Yuzu imagined the first day at her new school she transferred to after her mother's remarriage a bit differently; she didn't know it'd be an ultra-strict and conservative girls' school. So instead of a sweet high-school romance, she butts heads with the stern student council president Mei—who turns out to be her new step sister. And she has to learn that hate and attraction are often not that far apart.
- 25-sai no Joshikousei (Raw) Latest: Episode 009
The romance story centers around Hana Natori, an earnest, good-natured 25-year-old woman whose cousin refuses to go to high school. Hana takes her cousin's place and attends the high school. On her first day, though, Hana's ruse is discovered by her former high school classmate Okito Kanie—who happens to be the high school's world history teacher.
- Bloody Code (Sub) Latest: Episode 012
Li Mingyang was originally an ordinary office worker. Because of a strange QR code, he was trapped in a killing city. Here everyone is forced to participate in a survival game that is going to kill or be killed. In the process of finding a way out of the city, the mastermind behind the whole incident surfaced step by step.
- JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Diamond wa Kudakenai (Uncensored) (Sub) Latest: Episode 008
The year is 1999. Morioh, a normally quiet and peaceful town, has recently become a hotbed of strange activity. Joutarou Kuujou, now a marine biologist, heads to the mysterious town to meet Jousuke Higashikata. While the two may seem like strangers at first, Jousuke is actually the illegitimate child of Joutarou's grandfather, Joseph Joestar. When they meet, Joutarou realizes that he may have more in common with Jousuke than just a blood relation. Along with the mild-mannered Kouichi Hirose and the boisterous Okuyasu Nijimura, the group dedicates themselves to investigating recent disappearances and other suspicious occurrences within Morioh. Aided by the power of Stands, the four men will encounter danger at every street corner, as it is up to them to unravel the town's secrets, before another occurs.
- Chio's School Road (Dub) Latest: Episode 012
This is a story of a nerdy bookworm girl on her way to school, and yes, that's the entire premise, as she's not getting to school any time soon. Taking her 'usual' route to school, it becomes an increasingly unusual adventure, and all the more ridiculous as it carries on. It takes an unpleasant sentiment many can empathize with, the feeling of tardiness, and brings humor to it—making it a hilarious situation to look back upon.
- Voltron: Legendary Defender Season 7 (Sub) Latest: Episode 007
With Lotor defeated and Shiro recovered, the Paladins are finally able to set a course for Earth. After a long and perilous journey, they discover that their home planet is not how they left it. The Paladins return to Earth in Season 7 of Voltron Legendary Defender, coming to HotAnime August 10th!
- Zoku Tsuma Netori: Ikumi to Shizuka (Sub) Latest: Episode 001
Jun 13, 2017 - Download X-Force for Autodesk 2018 MAC OS, genkey full Link download: X-Force for Autodesk 2018 MAC. Jun 13, 2017 - Download X-Force for Autodesk 2018 MAC OS, genkey full Link download. DOWNLOAD Link download autocad 2018 full crack: DOWNLOAD. Xf adsk 2018 mac torrent.
- How Not to Summon a Demon Lord (Uncensored) (Dub) Latest: Episode 012
In regards to the MMORPG Cross Reverie, Sakamoto Takuma boasted an overwhelming strength that was enough for him to be called the Demon King by the other players. One day, he gets summoned to another world with his appearance in the game. There, there are two people that insist 'I am the real summon master.' Takuma gets slave-turning magic used for summoned beasts cast on him by the girls― However, the peculiar ability 'Magic Reflection' is invoked! The ones that were turned to slaves were the girls! Takuma was bewildered. He's the strongest magician but, he doesn't have any social skills. Panicking, the first words that came out were the ones that he used inside the game role-playing the Demon King?! 'I'm amazing you say? Of course I am. I am Diablo.. The one feared as the Demon King!' This is the story the Demon King (acting) that would soon inspire the world and his other world adventure that he plunges through with his absolute strength, raise the curtain!
Erased Anime Episode 1 English Dub
Erased Anime Episode 1 English Dub
Watch ERASED Episode 1 Online at Anime-Planet. Satoru Fujinuma is a struggling manga artist who works at a pizza parlor. Ever since he was a kid, he has been holding himself responsible for a kidnapping incident. ERASED, known in Japan as. And in the United Kingdom by Anime Limited. A dub in English was announced. Sri Lanka and Brunei with English subtitles.

subset: commoncrawl


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If you're one of those people who dislikes their own birthday because it's too much attention, then a fundraiser birthday party is for you. Basically, you use your birthday as an excuse to raise awareness and money for a cause you are passionate about. You could limit the invite list to your friend and family, or you could open it up to co-workers, community volunteers and even more. Here are your three tips to throwing yourself a fundraiser birthday party:
Digitally fundraise—For those family members and friends who feel uncomfortable sending money in the mail, set up an account on a fundraising website for people to donate online. You could set it up through Razoo, Punchbowl or even create a landing page on the nonprofit's website that is solely focused on your fundraiser birthday party.
Showcase nonprofit—The most important part of your fundraiser birthday party is educating your guests on the particular cause. Take it a step further and host your birthday party at the nonprofit's offices, and, of course, invite all the nonprofit employees and volunteers to your party.
Serve themed-food—Think about the cause that you're fundraising for. How can you lend the cause to a birthday party theme? Maybe you're fundraising for animal rights, so you have everything animal-themed and serve animal crackers. Think along those lines to make it more fun.


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President Obama hosted the Senate's leading Democrats at the White House for more than an hour Saturday afternoon, in a session that came the same day that Majority Leader Harry Reid met with Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell.
No details were available about the Democrats' discussion, which is one of several lines of communication that are aimed at reaching consensus on a budget deal. Earlier Saturday, House Speaker John Boehner said negotiations with the White House were over, after the president rejected the GOP's most recent plan.
Around midday Saturday, Senate Democrats said they didn't support a proposal being drafted by Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. That deal, which was labeled as a compromise, aimed to raise the federal debt ceiling through January.
The White House and members of Congress are trying to find a way to end the government shutdown that is now in its 12th day. They also want to raise the federal debt limit, something the Treasury says must happen by Oct. 17 to avoid a potential default.
And in the process, Democrats are resisting Republicans' efforts to gut the Affordable Care Act, the nation's new healthcare law. But the law does contain one element that might serve as the crux of a compromise.
"Potentially, Republicans may get a two-year delay of the 2.3 percent medical device tax in the law, given the levy's unpopularity even among Democrats," Politico reports.
Update at 5:30 p.m. ET: Senate Democrats Visit Obama
We've updated the top of this post to reflect the most recent news.
Our original post continues:
As it seeks its own solution to the crisis, the Senate blocked a bill backed by Democrats Saturday that would have raised the borrowing limit through 2014.
Attention then turned to Sen. Susan Collins, the Maine Republican who has been working to craft a potential compromise solution. After the vote, senators could be seen flocking around her chair on the Senate floor. Collins is expected to speak about her plan in the early afternoon Saturday.
From Capitol Hill, NPR's David Welna reports for our Newscast unit:
"House Republicans met privately this morning, hours after President Obama rejected their plan to extend the debt ceiling for six weeks and start talks on reopening the government. Kansas Republican Tim Huelskamp blames Obama for the shutdown.
"'We're waiting for the president actually to make an offer. He has not. Just sitting around waiting doesn't get the job done,' he said.
"Meanwhile in the Senate, Majority leader Harry Reid chided his GOP colleagues.
"The Republicans are not interested, it appears at this stage, of doing anything constructive to extend the debt ceiling, to open the government. Later — it's what they always say."
Citing a congressional aide, Reuters reports that Reid and his counterpart in the Senate, Republican leader Mitch McConnell, met for about an hour on Saturday, at McConnell's request.
The ongoing stalemate in Congress led NPR's Ari Shapiro to ask the question today, "Would the U.S. Be Better Off With A Parliament?"
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Lumia 920 available at EE stores for £329 with free charger
The UK's first network operator to offer 4G, as well as being the exclusive partner for the Lumia 920 is currently offering the Windows Phone for a discounted price when purchased on PAYG (Pay As You Go). EE has been the only operator in the UK to offer the Lumia 920 since the Windows Phone 8 device was launched two months ago.
Restricted to EE, Orange, T-Mobile and reportedly Virgin Mobile, consumers who opt to purchase the Lumia 920 locked to EE will be able to pick one up for just £329. That's over £200 cheaper than unlocked pricing. Unfortunately the Windows Phone will be locked to EE, which is currently going through teething while customers (and potential subscribers) are left baffled by numerous issues.
Ranging from a poorly constructed website to obscene pricing and poor service, EE hasn't had the easiest of transitions when taking up T-Mobile and Orange, wrapping both together with its new 4G service. When browsing the EE website it's not apparent that the Lumia 920 is a hero device for the operator with the exclusivity deal that's currently still in force with Nokia. We're not seeing a strong Windows Phone push.
For £329, the Lumia 920 is a bargain - regardless what network the device is locked to. Sporting an 8.7MP Nokia PureView camera (with a 1.2MP front-facing shooter), a 4.5'' 1280 x 768 IPS display, dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4, 1GB RAM, 32 GB internal storage, 2000mAh battery, wireless charging, it's definitely worth the price tag - especially since a free wireless charger is involved.
Vodafone has announced plans to stock the Lumia 920 in early 2013, while Three UK has revealed on Twitter that the company wants to take up Nokia's flagship Windows Phone. We expect other UK operators to follow suit, competing with EE on the 4G LTE battleground. Should you be looking forward to investing in the latest hardware from Nokia and aren't in a hurry, be sure to keep an eye out for deals that will be available with carriers.
Check your local EE store for more information on the deal.
Thanks, yosagojimbo and Andrew for the tips!
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Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.


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Your messages about the arrival of Abigail have been icing on the cake, a delight to me and to my entire family. Thank you all so much for taking the time to write words of encouragement and congratulations.
I can't wait to record my impressions of the new arrival after our first opportunity to meet in person, which is scheduled for next week. (Note to Susan and Phil: Auntie Dolores is coming with me. Please tie up the dogs so we don't have a repeat of the Christmas Eve incident.)
Oh–And a Word About the Shawl
I've tried four or five approaches to writing a nice, fat entry about the christening shawl and admit defeat. The fact is, even if I had hours to style a good photograph it would still only look like a pile of string. Since it's on a circular needle, I can't spread it out to show you details.
So, a mere slip of an update. I've nearly finished the main portion of the border, which is worked in the diamonds-and-mesh pattern I showed you last time. Then there will be a narrow strip of buttercups on a stockinette ground. Then, and I can scarcely imagine it, I will work the edging.
At the moment, it feels as though I were born knitting this piece, and that in my next incarnation I will emerge still clutching it.
Now, the Idea
Ages ago a photographer who was acting as my mentor encouraged me to take on a large project, something that:
- could not be completed in a month;
- was outside the normal scope of my work; and
- that pushed one or more of my fear buttons.
- consider themselves model material and feel I should pay them a sitting fee plus royalties,
- are really looking to live out a sex-with-the-photographer fantasy, or
- back out at the last minute because, suddenly, they feel fat.
But I'm still fascinated with the idea of capturing concretely something as nebulous and ephemeral as a community. And last week, as I was lying in bed contemplating mortality, the ill-fated portrait project intersected with an essay I've just recorded for Brenda Dayne's podcast, and a new idea emerged.
Why 1,000 gay men? They're not my only community. Why not honor 1,000 knitters?
Announcing: The Thousand Knitters Project
Beginning today, I'm seeking anyone who self-identifies as a knitter to become part of The Thousand Knitters Project. Here are the particulars:
- Subjects will be photographed anywhere from half- to full-length, displaying a work-in-progress or finished object.
- There will be no payment for sitting, but subjects will be given either an electronic file or a finished 8"x10" print.
- Individual sittings will take no longer than 15 minutes.
- The portraits will be assembled for display in at least an electronic venue (i.e., Web site), and other formats depending on how the project evolves.
- All subjects will be asked to sign a standard model release, giving me permission to use the images in my work and waiving the right to compensation.
- Subjects can (and I hope, will) be any and every age, shape, size, race, religion, gender, orientation, nationality. The only thing that matters is that you knit and/or crochet.
- For the time being, sittings will take place in Chicago, so you'd need to be able to get here. If this takes off, we'll see about shooting in other cities.
- Yes, if you crochet or spin, you're welcome to join in. But I have to draw the line somewhere, so let's wait see how this goes and then maybe I can get to the quilters and the cross-stitchers and...
Interested? Write to me at portraits at franklinhabit daht cahm with the subject line "1,000." That's it, just "1,000." I'll be using the subject line to pre-sort the messages, so please be sure to use the correct subject. Give me some idea of when you might be available and we'll go from there.
And one more thing: If possible, I'd love to tap into the crowds coming in for Stitches Midwest. If you'll be a vendor at the market, and are willing to discuss the possibility of allowing me space to set up a chair and small backdrop–about as much as you'd need for a book signing–contact me at franklin at franklinhabit daht cahm. In return, I could offer advertising, photography, and possibly some monetary compensation.
*Not a ground-breaking idea; Richard Avedon's American West series is my inspiration.


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Is it unrealistic for us to expect businesses to be perfect? Are we setting ourselves up for disappointment by expecting businesses to flawlessly deliver every single time? As customers, are we expecting perfection when perfection is unattainable? Is that fair of us?
I'm not trying to make excuses for when businesses fail us. But failure happens. No business is perfect. Yet, we seem to expect businesses to be perfect all the time. One poor encounter with a company's customer service rep sets many of us off into a rage against that business. One misstep by a company spoils everything for many of us. A series of cancelled flights and thousands of stranded customers can trigger a major backlash. (Yep, I'm talking JetBlue here.)
JetBlue messed up BIG-TIME. No doubt about it. They failed their customers in unimaginable ways. We now know JetBlue is far from perfect. But was it realistic for us to expect JetBlue to be perfect?
No business is perfect. NONE. Business is a game of progress, not perfection. No business will be perfect. It's an impossibly unattainable goal. But while that goal is unattainable, the most endearing and enduring businesses seem to always aspire to reach perfection. They always make progressive steps to improve their business and how their business connects with people. Sure, they will stumble along the way. But the true measure of a company is how they recover and forge ahead making progress along the way to overcome their mistakes.
No person is perfect. NO ONE. As people we also mess up BIG-TIME. We constantly make bad decisions that harm others. We disappoint friends. We betray people's trust. We cannot achieve perfection. Doesn't mean we should give up and not try. The most endearing and enduring people I know make progress every day to improve themselves and their relationships with others. And when people see progress being made, they are willing to forgive mistakes.
Thank goodness people are so forgiving. Otherwise, I wouldn't have any friends. I've pissed off enough people in enough ways to not have friends. Lucky for me, people are forgiving. I still have some friends. Lost some along the way—but the ones I still have are great.
I think JetBlue can recover. I think customers have it in their hearts to forgive them for messing up BIG-TIME. It'll take time though as well as diligent focus from every JetBlue employee to make progress in earning back trust and friendship from customers.
In GOOD TO GREAT, Jim Collins says one factor that determines which companies go from being good to being great is how they deal with adversity. He says that many of the good-to-great companies he studied faced a company-defining crisis. According to Collins, what separates the winners from the losers is how they confronted and responded to the crisis …
"The good-to-great companies faced just as much adversity as the comparison companies, but responded to that adversity differently. They hit the realities of their situation head-on. As a result, they emerged from adversity even stronger."
JetBlue is considered a good airline. How they confront and respond to this crisis will determine if they can ever progress to becoming a great airline. Time will tell if JetBlue can make the good-to-great leap.


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Nearly every time Don Orsillo read an in-game commercial or promo, Jerry Remy offered some commentary. He told us how much he loves the sponsor or how he was reminded to use a particular product or visit a store or he wanted to encourage us to visit the store.
Every time Don started a spot, I waited for Jerry to chime in. And he did! Every. Single. Time. I cannot recall hearing this kind of forced banter before. Usually, Orsillo reads the bits and we get back to the baseball game. While I found it utterly amazing, especially as I was waiting for each one in the middle innings, it also made the broadcast virtually unlistenable.
What follows is most of the incidents. It's disgraceful that NESN is forcing its announcers to perform addendums to the commercials instead of calling the game and discussing the Red Sox -- and Orsillo and Remy should have enough clout to object to this embarrassing behaviour. (Either they did not object or they lost the battle with the network.) I'm sure NESN hopes that Orsillo's and Remy's popular booth banter will disguise the advertisements somewhat, but that plan was an utter failure on Sunday.
Start of top of 2nd, (Dunkin Donuts):
Remy: I love that apple pie!Top of 2nd, Kotsay batting (NESN program with Charlie Moore):
Orsillo: Really?
Remy: Oh, delicious!
Orsillo (suppressing a giggle as Remy seemed a bit too excited): I'll have to try it out.
Remy: Ahh, that should be fun, from beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee.Bottom of 2nd, after Hall walks (CVS Pharmacy):
Remy: I have to stop in at CVS after the game. I got a few things to pick up before we head out on the next road trip.Top of 3rd, Rios batting:
Orsillo: I already did today.
Remy: Yeah, I know!
Remy: I was thinking about that Overstocked promo, you know, where they get to flip the numbers on the scoreboard. That's the Ultimate Fan Experience. I think the Ultimate Fan Experience would be able to sit in the dugout during a game, wouldn't you say?Top of 3rd, Quentin batting (Monster Money/Mass State Lottery):
Remy: I play that all the time. Haven't hit yet, but will continue to play.Bottom of 3rd, Ortiz batting (NESN show Pocket Money):
Orsillo: You can't win if you don't play.
Remy: I said I play it all the time!
Orsillo: I know, that's what I'm saying. You got to keep playing.
Remy: You know, I've got to start to watch all three of those shows. We just haven't had time.Start of top of 4th (Cumberland Farms):
Orsillo: I know, with the day-night doubleheader and everything else, the road.
Remy: Ten o'clock tonight, I've got to put on Pocket Money. And I need to see the other two new shows, too. I have not seen them yet.
Orsillo: Shining City and, of course, After The Game.
Remy: Right.
Orsillo: You're all over it tonight, though.
Remy: Yeah, there's nothing on tonight.
Remy: Really good stuff. Really good stuff. 79 cents -- can't beat that.Bottom of 4th, Vizquel batting (Beth Israel Deaconess First Aid Stand):
Orsillo: Cannot beat it. The Chill Zone.
Remy: Let's hope you don't, but if you do, you are in good hands.Start of top of 5th (Red Sox Monster Mondays):
Orsillo: Right here at the ball park, in case you need it.
Remy: That's basically a whole half-hour of Tom Caron at 5:30, leading up to the pre-game show.Top of 5th, after Rios grounds out (Boston Globe):
Orsillo (very quietly): It's not all Tom Caron.
Remy: Wha?
Orsillo: It's not all Tom Caron.
Remy: Well, it's an awful lot of Tom Caron.
Orsillo: There's a segment at 5:35 that isn't Tom Caron. It's 2-1, White Sox on top of the Red Sox.
Remy (Kif Krokeresque): Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh ...
Orsillo: As we head to the bottom of the fourth inning. Bill Hall.
Remy: Yes, make sure you tune in early, because --
Orsillo (laughing): Really early.
Remy: Don Orsillo is on very early. His hit is at 5:36. ... So be sure to tune in early.
Remy: You know, I went all through that Globe today, this morning, from front page to back page. And I looked at the jobs, just in case. You never know what might happen.Bottom of 5th, Lowrie batting (Red Sox online shop):
Remy: I check that every day, I'm looking for that perfect gift.Bottom of 5th, Ortiz batting (NESN Daily):
Remy: I actually saw you on that show one time. You did a hit for it. Saw it on the website.Top of 6th, after Ramirez grounds out (three NESN shows (again)):
Remy (excitedly): Oh! Well, that works out just perfect, because after the game, I'm going to have some dinner.(Right! Because the restaurant hasn't ponied up some $$$ to NESN!)
Orsillo: Where you gonna eat?
Remy: I can't say.
Top of 6th, Beckham batting (Covidien/Red Sox Foundation "helping to address health needs in our communities"):
Remy: And they do a wonderful job!Bottom of 6th, after Lowell grounds out (Benjamin Moore Paint):
Remy: You know, I didn't know about that stain until we started reading the promos this year. So I tried it out on the deck in the back of the condo I have.There were a few others, though they were minor. Remy noted that the Dunkin' Donuts Dugout had "good seats" and he informed us that you could "follow his [Don's] every move" on NESN's website.
Orsillo: Outstanding?
Remy: Unbelievable. And the way it holds up to the water is incredible.
And I swear Remy also noted that there was "nothing like a cold Sam Adams" at some point in the first 45 minutes of the game (I posted about it in the game thread), but I could not find it in the archived broadcast.
This "banter" pretty much stopped in the top of the seventh. It looked like NESN started off slowly, maybe one per half-inning, before cranking it up in the middle innings. Then they left the last few innings alone, on the off chance they were eventful or tense.
NESN is making a huge mistake if it continues overshadowing the game with advertising. It was glaringly apparent what was going on and it detracted greatly from the broadcast. Its very existence was annoying enough, but Remy's stupid banter was the exact opposite of his on-air personality. What will NESN's next great idea be -- adding a whooping sitcom laugh track to the play-by-play?
You can contact NESN at email@example.com or 617-536-9233.


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The slim, premium-feeling Acer Aspire S7 was one of the very first Windows 8 laptops I spent a significant amount of time with in the weeks before the official release of Windows 8. My colleagues and I agreed at the time that this 13-inch touch-screen laptop was an excellent advertisement for Microsoft's new OS, but our demo unit was preproduction hardware, and not ready for benchmark tests. Now, with a final consumer-ready version of the same machine in-hand, we can report performance and battery life test results and give this excellent laptop a review score.
In hands-on use, this Aspire S7 looked and felt identical to the preproduction sample from October 2012. Like many of the laptops and convertible laptop/tablet hybrids we've reviewed recently, the Aspire S7 is a new-from-the-ground-up ultrabook, rather than an existing Windows 7 product updated with new software. The S7 is also one of the thinnest, slickest-looking ultrabooks I've seen, highlighted by a white minimalist chassis and a lid covered with Gorilla Glass (much like the HP Envy Spectre). Inside is an Intel Core i7 CPU and something that has already become almost commonplace in Windows 8 laptops: a touch screen, built into a 13.3-inch 1,920×1,080-pixel display.
In Windows 8, with its tile-based interface and support for new and varied gestures, the touch screen becomes a useful secondary tool, as seen here, or in systems such as the Dell XPS 12 or Lenovo Yoga. It's not something you'll use every time, but after a few days, you'll find yourself reaching for it more and more, usually for a quick swipe or to scroll up and down long Web pages.
While the hardware and design of the Aspire S7 is definitely premium, it's a tough sell at $1,649, especially with touch-screen Windows 8 laptops available for as little as $529. An Intel Core i5 version of the S7 is available for a more reasonable $1,399, and your sizable investment gets you a 1080p display, a 256GB SSD, and that excellent touch screen.
Price as reviewed | $1,649 |
Processor | 1.9GHz Intel Core i7-3517U |
Memory | 4GB, 1600MHz DDR3 |
Hard drive | 256GB SSD |
Chipset | Intel HM77 |
Graphics | Intel HD4000 |
Operating System | |
Dimensions (WD) | 12.7 x 8.8 inches |
Height | 0.5 inches |
Screen size (diagonal) | 13.3 inches |
System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 2.9/3.5 pounds |
Category | 13-inch |
Design and features
The Acer Aspire S7 is one of the sharpest-looking laptops of 2012. It's incredibly thin and light, although the glass-covered lid makes it a bit top-heavy. The HP Envy Spectre had a similar glass-heavy design, putting glass on the back of the lid and the wrist rest. Here the wrist rest is thankfully glass-free.
The rest of the body is aluminum. Acer calls it a unibody chassis, much as Apple does, which means the base of it is carved from a single block of material. Its materials and coloring are different from a MacBook, but there's a certain stylistic similarity. However, it's unique enough to provide ample evidence that Apple does not have a monopoly on sharp high-end laptop designs. Several of my colleagues have walked by, seen the S7, and have been very impressed — that's a very useful metric in an office filled with jaded reporters who see every tech device under the sun. Then again, for $1,600, this had better be an impressive piece of hardware.
The keyboard has flat-topped, island-style keys, but it's hampered by extremely shallow key depth. I found myself making a lot of typing mistakes, because I had a hard time figuring out on the fly if each keystroke had registered. It's a long-standing issue with many of the thinnest ultrabooks (and a few not-so-thin ones). While it didn't make the keyboard unusable, this was not my favorite typing experience in recent memory.
The touch pad is a decent size for such a small laptop, but it's not among the most responsive I've tried. It's an Elan touch pad, rather than one from Synaptics, a company we've spoken to extensively about its ambitious Windows 8 touch-pad hardware and software plans. I found myself reaching for the touch screen more often than I might have because of the sluggish response.
The optimal way to interact with a Windows 8 laptop such as the Aspire S7 is through a combination of the keyboard, touch pad, and touch screen. It's a concept rarely seen before that has surprisingly become standard for Windows 8 laptops almost overnight, with touch models from Dell, HP, Acer, Asus, Toshiba, Sony, Lenovo, and others. It's too early to tell if this will be the new standard for all laptops, but so far we've seen only a handful of review samples without a touch screen, and prices have come down below $600 for basic models with Intel Core i3 CPUs and touch screens. If it can be added without a significant cost increase, I suspect a touch screen may be the new normal in 2013.
To be fair, it may be that the touch screen seems like the optimal way to interact with Windows 8 because touch-pad and keyboard controls are so incredibly counterintuitive. Swapping among programs, viewing all the programs you have open, and even switching among Web browser tabs are all a hassle in Windows 8, unless you have a touch screen, in which case a simple flick performs most basic system navigation tasks. The touch pad can mimic those moves, but it's not nearly as easy to do.
I found myself, without much deliberate planning, reaching out and using the touch screen for some tasks, while using the touch pad and keyboard for others. Having a touch screen on a laptop isn't a necessity, but having consumers trained for years now with smartphones and tablets, it's a much more natural interaction than it would have been in previous generations of hardware.
Helping solve one particular touch-screen laptop issue I've encountered before, the Aspire S7 screen hinge acts as one would expect from the closed position to about 120 degrees or so. After that, the hinge stiffens considerably. The end result: tapping and swiping on the screen while the laptop is open does not result in as much shaking or movement as you would expect. The screen also opens up to a full 180 degrees, allowing the system to lie completely flat, not that that's the kind of thing you would normally do.
The screen itself has a full 1,920×1,080-pixel resolution, which is a great premium feature to have on a 13-inch laptop, and at least part of the reason this system is so expensive. Many PC makers have told me that adding touch to an ultrabook screen will add some thickness, but in this case, the lid still seems very thin, with decent off-axis viewing and a screen that's glossy, but not overly reflective.
Video | Micro-HDMI | HDMI or DisplayPort |
Audio | Stereo speakers, combo headphone/mic jack | Stereo speakers, headphone/mic jacks |
Networking | 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Optical drive | None | DVD burner |
Connectivity and performance
With such a small laptop, it's inevitable that some features get skipped or otherwise compromised. In this case, it's the video output, which consists of a single Micro-HDMI port. You'll need an adapter to use it, whether you're sending the signal to an HDMI device or converting it for a VGA input. Besides that, you get two USB 3.0 ports and an SD card slot, which makes the S7 passable, but not particularly impressive, for connectivity.


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JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon predicted this would happen: The bank "plans to reclaim millions of dollars in stock from executives at the center of the trading blunder that shocked Wall Street," The Wall Street Journal reports.
According to the Journal:
"The nation's biggest bank is expected to claw back compensation from individuals including Ina Drew, who ran the company's Chief Investment Office, or CIO, according to people familiar with the bank's plans."
A clawback, one of the financial world's best words in our opinion, is "the recovery of money which has been already paid to a person or company, typically because that payment should not have been made for legal (or occasionally moral) reasons." ( Cambridge University Press)
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Hiroki Kuroda (5-2, 3.03) vs. Aaron Cook (1-3, 5.40).
COMMENTS: Once again, the sweet fruit of first place tantalizes us, but the reward will be hard fought. Kuroda is the Dodgers' most consistent starter, but Coors Field promises to be a Cold-Activated Battle. "In his only previous Coors Field start, he was pushed around for five runs in six innings. In four career starts against the Rockies, Kuroda is 0-2 with a 6.94 ERA," Dodgers.com tells us.
Meanwhile, only a Dodgers win combined with a Padres loss to the Nationals will make this a first-place Saturday night, but the Nationals are basically flipping a coin to decide which of two Triple-A pitchers will start for them. Why couldn't they start Stephen Strasburg a little earlier?


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Apr 19, 2022
Dust-control Strategies for Energy Upgrades
Completing weatherization and home performance upgrades can be dirty work. Add the challenges of being in occupied homes, and you have one of the toughest jobs in the industry! The type of dust created during energy upgrades ranges from a substantial nuisance to a documented hazard, like lead or even asbestos.
By: Cory Chovanec
Completing weatherization and home performance upgrades can be dirty work. Add the challenges of being in occupied homes, and you have one of the toughest jobs in the industry! The type of dust created during energy upgrades ranges from a substantial nuisance to a documented hazard, like lead or even asbestos. Program and regulatory compliance (OSHA, EPA, and so on) is often thought of as the primary reason to work safely and control dust, but customer and worker safety are equally important. The good news is that with a little planning and the right tools, you can overcome the many dust-control challenges facing today's installer and clearly set yourself apart from the competition.
The Benefits of Dust Control
Effective dust control can increase jobsite efficiency by reducing cleanup time and can protect workers and occupants while improving the quality of your work and your organization's level of customer service.
Reducing dust and protecting a home's flooring can make a lasting positive impression on your customers. Imagine two contractors preparing to install sidewall insulation from the interior by drilling holes on the inside of a home. One drills the holes with little to no floor covering, allowing a fine layer of dust to cling to every object in the room. The other carefully constructs a barrier wall from floor to ceiling, protects the floor with plastic sheeting, and uses a shroud attached to a HEPA vacuum while drilling the holes, limiting the amount of dust in the room.
Which one would you choose? Which one would you refer to a neighbor or consider a "professional"? As a quality assurance inspector, I have interviewed customers on the receiving end of both scenarios and, as you may have guessed, the ones whose contractors practiced dust control were far more satisfied with the job.
Working safe to reduce dust hazards is not only the right thing to do, it's sometimes the law. Homes built before 1978, which contain lead paint, and older homes with asbestos mixed into the wall plaster or drywall compound pose safety hazards for which there are additional requirements.
The work practices described in this article are general practices; they do not provide a step-by-step protocol for meeting each state or program's lead and asbestos rules. Check with your state health department and program funder to ensure that your work practices are following OSHA, EPA, and the Standard Work Specifications (SWS) required by the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) before you embark on a renovation project.
Customers need to know that their family will be safe when a contractor weatherizes their home. Read on to learn from those who have spent decades in the field developing creative and cost-effective methods for weatherizing homes while complying with related safety rules.
Achieving Effective Dust Control
Let's look at the key elements supporting effective dust control.
Shrouded Equipment
Less dust means fewer hours spent cleaning up at the end of each project. When cutting or drilling with a power tool, use a shroud attached to a HEPA vacuum. Many tool manufacturers have shrouds that fit their tools; prices range from $50 to $300. A lower-cost alternative is a homemade shroud, which can be made for under $20 and often works as well or better.
Constructing Containment
Containment is a broad term. It can mean anything from a piece of plastic on the ground to a barrier wall or a small enclosure. Homemade PVC frames or commercially available extendable poles can be used to create barrier walls or enclosures to limit the spread of dust. Containments work well for a variety of residential measure installations, such as:
- cutting attic access holes;
- drilling wall insulation access holes;
- installing mechanical ventilation; and
- making electrical upgrades.
The goal of any containment is to collect dust or debris and prevent it from spreading to other areas of the home. In some cases, regulations may require containment. In other cases, you may choose to use a containment strategy to restrict occupant access or prevent insulation or demolition debris from creating a nuisance for the homeowner. This can be especially beneficial when working on homes where the occupants have respiratory issues. The keys to effectively setting up a containment work area are to plan ahead and to have the right material for the job. Follow these steps when setting up an interior containment:
- Minimize the work area to conserve material and reduce cleanup time.
- Remove any objects from the work area.
- Cover immovable objects or electronics with disposable plastic sheeting.
- Protect the floor.
- Install plastic barrier walls or mask the area with plastic.
- Install an "I" door or use a zipper door for access.
These steps are general good practice and may vary depending on the type of work or the hazard you are dealing with. The WAP SWS require dust control to protect worker and occupant health. Following the work practices and containment strategies described above helps to ensure that this requirement is met. For example, SWS 126.96.36.199a, under Insulation/Walls/Preparation/Exterior Wall Dense Packing/Single-Family Homes, says, "Interior will be masked and dust controlled during drilling when accessing from interior."
Exterior work requiring containment, such as installing windows or removing painted siding, uses some of the same tools, and is based on some of the same concepts as interior work, but in exterior work the priority is protecting the ground and any adjacent properties. For lead renovator and asbestos work, you must also post warning signs, and follow more-specific work protocols. Follow these steps when working on exterior containments to keep dust and debris from insulation upgrades or renovation to a minimum and to streamline the cleanup process:
- Remove any objects from the work area.
- Minimize the work area (unless the space is specified by regulation, e.g., 10 feet of ground cover).
- Protect the ground.
- Close or cover exterior windows within the work area.
- Install a hygiene area and tack pad outside of the work area. (A tack pad is a small piece of plastic that workers stand on to remove personal protective equipment.)
- Wrap 2 x 4 lumber in the plastic ground cover to form a curb around the work area to prevent debris from spreading and to weigh down the plastic.
Working Wet
Work wet whenever possible. This helps to reduce dust. Misting surfaces with amended water prior to or during cutting and drilling helps keep dust particles from becoming airborne. Fill a small paper cup with shaving cream when drilling small holes and use it as a shroud; the dust and debris will cling to the shaving cream. This technique works well for pilot drill holes when using drywall anchors to install smoke alarms or CO detectors, or for smaller test holes an energy auditor may drill when checking for existing insulation. An alternative method is to add a bead of shaving cream to a Post-it Note below the hole being drilled before drilling small holes. The dust clings to the shaving cream on the paper rather than falling to the floor.
Field staff have come up with many creative ideas over the years. Here are a few of them:
- Use a 6-gallon storage tote as a shroud for exhaust fan upgrades when work can be done from the attic space. A HEPA vacuum can be incorporated if desired.
- Use an asbestos glove bag while drilling interior insulation access holes or installing a new exhaust fan. This is a great way to keep difficult work clean in confined areas, such as a customer's bathroom.
- Use a HEPA vacuum with the end of the hose placed into the containment enclosure to create a slight negative air pressure in the work area. When the hose is placed in the side of the work area farthest from the worker, dust is drawn away from the breathing zone.
Worker Protection
Over 20 years ago, when I first started working on existing homes as a young weatherization installer, there were no formal training programs or mentors to teach me dust-control strategies, and methods like using tool shrouds were not consistently implemented. We live in a different world now, where crews and contractors have access to high-quality personal protective equipment (PPE), effective tools to get the job done right, and workplace respirator programs for staff.
When working with lead, asbestos, or even just itchy fiberglass insulation, the following PPE is recommended:
- protective coveralls;
- head covering (hat, painter's spray sock) or coverall with hood;
- full face respirator with HEPA filter;
- high-quality gloves; and
- shoe covers.
Your employer is not the only one responsible for worker safety; it is up to each one of us. If you see someone on your jobsite ignoring safety rules or using inadequate PPE, I encourage you to say something. Our mission of improving energy efficiency, comfort, and health is an important one. We need to make sure that the people who do the work and the people who live in the homes we work on are protected.
Spreading the Safe Work Practice Knowledge
While there is no substitute for formal training on safe work practices or for field experience, we can learn from each other by sharing ideas and by using some of the techniques described in this article. If you are already using these techniques and have confidence in yourself, continue doing what you're already doing. In addition, I encourage you to share your expertise and experience with the next generation of retrofit installers. If you are new to the industry and are just learning about safe work practices, I hope you use the techniques described in this article and seek out training specific to any hazards you may encounter.
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Article Translations: (Spanish)
Your spine, or backbone, helps hold your body upright. Without it, you couldn't walk, run, or play sports.
If you look at yourself sideways in the mirror or look at a friend from the side, you'll notice that the back isn't flat like a piece of board. Instead, it curves in and out between your neck and lower back. Despite that gentle curve from the side, a healthy spine appears to run straight down the middle of the back. The trouble for someone with scoliosis is that the spine curves from side to side.
What Is Scoliosis?
The word scoliosis (say: sko-lee-OH-sis) comes from a Greek word meaning crooked. If you have scoliosis, you're not alone. About 3 out of every 100 people have some form of scoliosis, though for many people it's not much of a problem. For a small number of people, the curve gets worse as they grow and they may need a brace or an operation to correct it.
Someone with scoliosis may have a back that curves like an "S" or a "C." It may or may not be noticeable to others. While small curves generally do not cause problems, larger curves can cause discomfort. The X-ray image to the right shows what scoliosis looks like.
No one knows what causes the most common type of scoliosis called idiopathic (say: ih-dee-uh-PA-thik) scoliosis. (Idiopathic is a fancy word for unknown cause.) Doctors do know that scoliosis can run in families. So if a parent, sister, or brother had scoliosis, you might have it, too.
Most types of scoliosis are more common in girls than boys, and girls with scoliosis are more likely to need treatment.
How Do Kids Find Out if They Have Scoliosis?
Sometimes scoliosis will be easily noticeable. A curved spine can cause someone's body to tilt to the left or right. Many kids with scoliosis have one shoulder blade that's higher than the other or an uneven waist with a tendency to lean to one side. These problems may be noticed when a kid is trying on new clothes. If one pant leg is shorter than the other, a kid might have scoliosis. It's also possible that the kid does not have scoliosis, but one leg may be slightly shorter than the other or the ribs may be uneven.
You might get examined for scoliosis at school or during a doctor visit. In the United States, about half of the states require public schools to test for scoliosis. It's an easy test called the forward-bending test, and it doesn't hurt at all. It involves bending over, with straight knees, and reaching your fingertips toward your feet or the floor. Then, a doctor or nurse will look at your back to see if your spine curves or if your ribs are uneven.
What if I Have It?
If a doctor says you have scoliosis, then the doctor and your parent can talk about whether treatment is necessary, and then talk to you about what happens next. If the doctor wants to get a better look, he or she may order X-rays of your spine. Sometimes the doctor will decide that the curve isn't serious enough to need treatment.
If you do need treatment, you'll go to a special doctor called an orthopedist (say: or-tho-PEE-dist), or orthopedic surgeon, who knows a lot about bones and how to treat scoliosis. The orthopedist will probably start by figuring out how severe your spine's curve is. To do this, an orthopedist looks at X-rays and measures the spine's curve in degrees, like you measure angles in math class.
Someone who has a mild curve might just need regular checkups to make sure the curve isn't getting worse. Someone with a more severe curve may need to wear a brace or have an operation.
Treating Scoliosis With Braces
A brace will not permanently correct curves that are already there. A brace for scoliosis is meant to hold the spine in place so the curve doesn't get any worse. Some braces are made to be worn only at night and others are designed to be worn both day and night.
If you need a brace, your doctor can discuss which type would be best for you. Braces are meant to be used while the spine is still growing, especially when it grows very fast during the "adolescent growth spurt." Therefore, a kid with scoliosis will spend less time in the brace as he or she gets older and gets closer to adult size. After the spine finishes growing, braces are no longer necessary or effective.
Doctors try to make better braces for kids with scoliosis, so braces now are lighter, more comfortable, and easier to wear than they used to be. There are many different types of braces. Kids with scoliosis often wear a brace called a thoracolumbosacral orthosis (say: tho-ra-ko-lum-bo-SAY-krul or-THOH-sus), or TLSO for short. This kind of brace comes up under the arms and is more comfortable than the bigger braces.
Braces are usually named after the cities where they were invented and have names like the Boston brace, the Wilmington brace, the Providence brace, and the Charleston brace.
Treating Scoliosis With Surgery
Braces often do the job, but some kids who have severe scoliosis eventually need an operation. Someone who gets this operation will be given anesthesia, a kind of medicine that puts a person to sleep and prevents pain during the operation. During the operation, the orthopedic surgeon fuses the bones in the spine together so that they can no longer continue to curve. The surgeon also uses metal rods and screws to correct the curve and hold everything in line until the bones heal. The metal parts are placed deep under the spine muscles, and in most cases can't be felt and do not hurt. They are meant to be left in the back permanently.
The operation takes several hours, depending on how big the curve is and how many bones need to be fused. Normally, a kid who has this operation will be able to get out of bed the next day and start to walk, doesn't need to wear a cast or brace, and can usually go home in less than a week. The kid can usually go back to school about a month after surgery, then return to some activities in 3 or 4 months, and most normal activities after 6 to 12 months. But keep in mind that each patient's surgery and recovery might be different, depending on the type of surgery and the patient's age.
A metal rod in a kid's back? It may sound strange, but that rod does an important job while the bones are growing together — it corrects the curve and holds the spine in place during healing. The kid can still move to pet a dog, swim laps, or shoot hoops. After the bones fuse, the metal rod isn't needed anymore. But it's not hurting anything, so it isn't removed. To remove it would mean getting another operation. Before they used metal rods, a kid would have to wear a body cast for up to a year to keep the spine in place during the recovery period. No fun at all!
Over the years, the treatments have improved, so more and more kids with scoliosis live normal lives. Doctors don't know of any activities, including sports, that can make scoliosis worse. But kids who need surgery for scoliosis should talk to their doctor about how to participate safely.
Scoliosis may throw you a curve, but with the right care, a kid can grow up healthy and feeling fine.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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