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Jason Shen has achieved tremendous success in athletics, technology entrepreneurship, writing, and living an outstanding life. To promote his recent GiveGetWin deal on The Science of Willpower, he sat down to tell us how he started learning about willpower, the state of what's known scientifically about how willpower and the brain work, and how you can start improving your life right away by implementing a tiny habit, thinking and systems, and using some powerful thinking tools. Enjoy:
Developing Willpower by Jason Shen, as told to Sebastian Marshall
Willpower has been an undercurrent in my entire life. In gymnastics, you have to use your willpower to overcome your fear of an activity and go for the skill you want, to get over the fear, to push yourself to finish your conditioning and strength training a part of you doesn't want to…
It didn't come automatically to me. When I was a student, I wasn't automatically self-disciplined. There were actions I knew were useful, like doing my homework in one session without getting distracted, or not throwing clothing on my apartment floor. But I wouldn't always do them, and I didn't know why.
I started to learn those answers during a student initiative course at Stanford called The Psychology of Personal Change. That's when I first started reading academic papers on the topic. In academia, willpower and self-discipline is often called "self-regulation," and in 2009 I started to get really serious about it from an academic perspective -- and saw gains from it in my personal life.
We're all sort of amateur psychologists. Since we all have a brain and a mind, most people tend to have our own theories about how it works.
Normally, a person wouldn't assume they know nuclear physics better than someone who has studied as a nuclear physicist, but most people think they know lots about their mind because they've been living in it our whole lives. People tend to think they know how their brain works, but they never spent time to understand it, to learn from studies, and to try to understand the most common biases that people share.
It takes a lot to face up to reality and recognize the way you think contains biases and differs from how you predict your behavior is going to be differs from reality. When we fail to do something we want to do, we tend to rationalize it away instead of examining it and learning, the way we'd examine scientific evidence.
Studying willpower makes you face up to the fact that you're not as good as you'd like to be yet, and most people are comfortable with that fact and would rather choose to avoid that topic… even though they can get huge gains from learning.
But there's significant gains to be had: it's clear from sports and looking at successful artists and people in other fields, the people who are the most successful often aren't the most naturally talented or well-connected, the 'obvious best bets' to win aren't always the winners. They don't always invest the time and energy to hone their craft and to become the best.
Winning comes from orienting your behavior towards the most productive activities, and there's two parts of that:figure out what the best activities are, and get yourself to do them. Passion and love of what you're doing can help, but even the most passionate people rarely want to do what's best for their training all the time. Once you get really serious about anything, it's often not fun to consistently put in the time to be great at it.
When you want to do productive activities more, it's not about having more willpower -- it's about intelligently using the willpower you've got. Figure out your own psychology, understand the general principles, and direct yourself to do the activities even when you don't feel like it.
Willpower is only half of the equation for general behavior change. Habits are the other half.
A short discussion about the brain is in order. Willpower takes active use of the prefrontal cortex, which is the most recently evolved part of the brain. This new part of the brain is also in charge of things like setting goals, analyzing information, making predictions, and a whole range of activities you've call 'higher level of thinking.
A variety of studies have shown that our ability to take on activities and tasks that requires the use of the prefrontal cortex diminishes over short-term use. As you tax this ability over time, it performs worse and worse if you don't allow adequate recovery.
That's a big deal: it means doing anything that takes your willpower and advanced difficult thinking makes you have less performance, less thinking ability, and less willpower in the short term until you rest again.
A lot of studies have shown this… for instance, coping with stress often makes people relapse from quitting smoking. People don't like being in bad moods, so you need to use willpower when in a bad mood to stop from snapping at a coworker or spouse. And that's the same willpower you're using to not smoke cigarettes… so hitting stress makes you more likely to relapse into smoking, drinking, a drug you're trying to quit, or going off your diet.
That makes intuitive sense to most people, but they don't think about if they're trying to do too much at once and it all falls apart. They might see that pattern if they reflect on their behavior, but it doesn't factor into their plans for the future.
So willpower can only be half of the equation of behavior change: it's too limited on a day to day, moment by moment level to do everything you want. You don't want to tax your willpower too much on a given day or at a given time. You want to offload these actions and turn them into habits, which are the second part the equation.
Habits are great when you set them correctly: it's behavior you repeat subconsciously or without thinking whenever the habit is cued or triggered. You're not doing habits with a particular goal in mind, and they don't require that prefrontal cortex thinking. It becomes "just sort of something you do now."
Brushing your teeth is an obvious example of something that doesn't take much willpower or self-discipline. You just do it.
On the other hand, if you've got a bookmark for Hacker News, Reddit, or Facebook that you frequently click on. In that case, you don't stop and think, 'I'm frustrated on this problem, so I'm going to go get sucked into HN and read.' It gives an instant payoff, but you're not thinking it. You just do it.
Habits seem to be a form of memory. The current thinking is that it resides in the limbic system, which is an older system that exists in most mammals. You seem less planning and executive thinking in other mammals, but you do see limbic behavior.
You see mice run the maze, get the cheese, run the maze, get the cheese… after they've been doing it, they'll start running the maze even if there's no cheese at the end.
You want to do that for yourself -- give yourself habits, and then you don't need to use willpower constantly. It's like hard drive vs. RAM -- you have a lot more hard drive space than RAM.
How many changes you can make at the same time depends on a couple things.
In a weird way, the more stable your life is, the more changes you can make to some extent. A fixed routine and a fixed schedule makes it easier to establish changes, especially habit changes. If you're flying around, and sometimes your job has a crazy schedule with staying late, traveling, etc… or if you have a lot of drama going on with your girlfriend and boyfriend, it's going to block your schedule and make it harder for you to form new habits.
The other thing is how gradually are you taking on these habits. In the class I taught, I had everyone take on a habit they could do in under five minutes, the minimal thing they'd need to take on towards their desired new behavior. If you start like that, you could take on 3 or 4 little habits, and then gradually ease into expanding them. But if you wanted to quit smoking cold turkey, that might take 120% of your focus at first.
The metaphor most people use for willpower is that it's like a muscle… it's not like you're running to full capacity, you get to zero, and you've got nothing. It's like, as you get tired, your performance gets worse. It appears you can strengthen your willpower over time. Willpower varies over time in people, but everyone can increase their willpower over time.
There was a study on strengthening willpower: students were assigned to one of three different self-control drills. One involved posture, and they had to think of their posture all the time. The other was regulating mood, and the third was keeping a diary of what they ate. They did this for two weeks. Then they did a test of their willpower, which involved squeezing a handgrip as hard as they could, which has been shown to map to willpower.
Interestingly, the handgrip has nothing to do with these 3 things, there was no working out, and there's no reason they'd be physically stronger -- but they showed an ability to get stronger to squeeze the handgrip compared to people who didn't do anything after training their willpower.
Other studies have shown the act of developing a habit that taxes your willpower doesn't just improve your peer ability to exert your willpower in a singular, one-dimensional way, it can also spill over into other areas of your life.
There was one where study participants did eight weeks of exercise. First, once a week. Then twice a week. Then three to four times per week. Exercise made them improve at all kinds of other habits -- eating healthier, eating less junk food, watching less TV and studying more, missing less appointments, leaving dirty dishes in the sink lesson often… almost every habit researchers asked them to measure improved. They were doing right things more often in all these areas. Doing bench press doesn't just make you stronger, it also lets you have more strength for everything. Same with habit change.
Starting a tiny habit is one of the best ways to get started with developing your willpower. That means pick something really small, like flossing. It's not particularly fun, or particularly hard. And then get into the habit of flossing every day. If you can't get yourself to floss every day, how are you going to build a thriving a business? How are you going to lose 50 pounds? How are you going to deliver a large project on-time under project with all the spec fleshed out? Flossing takes one minute. And it doesn't have to be flossing -- it could be anything simple, like drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning.
When it's small, all the noise and excuses fall away. If you failed with a tiny easy habit, ask why. Start to analyze. Did you forget? Make reminders. Maybe you need to put a post-it note up. Try to run a tiny habit for 10 days in a row. Then analyze if you miss a day. Did you feel tired? Then ask yourself if you can go to bed one minute later. Maybe you need to set an alarm as a reminder.
If something is not going the way you want, the answer is rarely if ever to try harder. The general response is often, 'I'm going to try harder.' If you understand willpower is sort of limited on a moment to moment basis and can be strengthened over time, but if you're not doing what you're supposed to be doing… then look at your system. Look at fixing it as a system instead of trying harder.
This is why starting a tiny habit can work really well: it gives you an opportunity to analyze your system of behavior without making excuses, paying attention to the wrong thing, or feeling bad. If you forget to floss, the answer isn't to try harder. If you forgot, you need reminders. If you don't have floss in the house, you need to buy some.
As an entrepreneur, there's sometimes drudge work that you don't want to do but needs to get done for the business. Sometimes you can use willpower as a short-term one-time thing, but if it's a repeated thing, you've got to say, 'I'm not going to be able to try harder forever. Can I pay someone else to do this? Can I batch this and do it less often? Can I reduce 70% of the work on this? How do I eliminate the need for me to try harder on this? You want to look to make it so you don't have try harder.
Any sort of prefrontal cortex thinking seems to tax the willpower muscle. If you're thinking really really hard, that's going to drain your willpower. A good example: they had students who had to memorize either a two-digit or a seven-digit number. They were told it's for a music study, they're listening to music while trying to remember this number. At the end, they thanked the student and offered them a snack -- either fruit salad or chocolate cake. Quickly decide which. 70% of 2-digit numbers took the fruit, 30% got the cake. If they had to remember the harder seven-digit number, it's harder and more work. Those people, 50% chose the cake. That's a significant increase in people choosing cake, just because they were trying to remember a seven-digit instead of two digit number.
Depression is really bad for willpower. You're hovering in a low zone, but you need to be in a pretty good mood to do the stuff to get the gains. I hesitate to make recommendations since I'm not that familiar with depression, but -- exercise. Aerobic exercise has been shown to equally or more effective than Zoloft. They did this for four months, and 88% who did exercise had recovered and not relapsed six months later. Only 55% who hadn't exercised and taken Zoloft fully recovered.
If you want to exercise, that can be a great thing to make a tiny habit out of. Like running, put running shorts, sneakers, and shirt on, go outside and run for 1 minute and go home. And then five minutes. And then run down the block and come back. Some advocates say keep the tiny habit as is, and you'll feel inclined to go and run more, but you still 'win' if you keep doing the tiny habit and never change it.
That's one way to do it. Start tiny and build. Another way would to get external accountability: a personal trainer or a highly motivated and supporting friend who already works out all the time like clockwork. External accountability will make people feel a little pressure from the social perspective, so they'll go and do the thing.
A third approach: Because decisions take energy and sap energy, OFFLOAD THE DECISION. Don't try to start exercising and decide on the whole program yourself. Do Starting Strength or the Insanity Program for 10 weeks, and just follow the instructions and get it going for you. Remember that thinking taxes willpower. "Should I use dumbbells or the machine?" That's no good for willpower and habit-forming, so just find a good plan and follow the plan to start.
Of course, If it's a core piece of your being, it makes sense to design your own program. If you're a pro athlete, design your own program. If it's a supplementary part of your life, pick something proven that works.
In the Vanity Fair piece called 'Obama's Way' by Michael Lewis, they talked about how President Obama is aware of and works against decision fatigue. He only has navy and grey suits. So all he has to decide is 'navy or grey', no other decisions from a fashion perspective. He doesn't decide the meals he eats. The offloads decisions and preserves decisionmaking for the most important stuff (and his March Madness basketball picks).
Of all the habits and behavior change you could do, fitness is the #1 biggest win possible. There's so many benefits to exercise.
If you're not regularly exercising, it should be the HIGHEST AREA OF PRIORITY. An Associate Professor at Harvard Public Health said, 'The closest thing to a magic bullet is exercise.' That's the number one thing. It affects mood. Anti-depression. Improves learning. After kids did intense sprinting exercise, it increased bloodflow to the hippocampos which relates to memory and helped learning vocabulary. If you're not exercising, you're not maximizing your ability.
This is another example where in thinking in a systems way comes into play: there are people out there who says, 'I tried exercising, it doesn't work for me. It doesn't fit into my schedule. I go for a couple weeks, and then I stopped.' If you tried something and it didn't work, that doesn't meant he whole thing is busted. If your roof leaked, and you tried to patch it and the first patch didn't work, you wouldn't say, 'Well, my roof is busted so it's going to leak into the house.' Try different materials, try a different contractor, try something else.
Don't like going to the gym? It's not the only way to exercise. Running. Dancing. Spinning class. At-home video. Integrate more walking, walk everywhere… that's still better than nothing. Join a sport you like. Do 10 pushups every time before you go to the bathroom.
There's a million and one ways to get physical activity into your life. You only need to find one.
People give up because they like to keep a positive self-conception of themselves. People think they're in the right, and want to keep thinking they're in the right, so they find an excuse. We don't want to have a negative conception of ourselves.
If an attempt to start exercising doesn't work, most people (falsely) see the choice as between being a bad person or saying 'exercise doesn't work for me.' But you don't need to make it personal: you can approach it just like a roof that's leaking or a car that breaks down, and analyze the system. Build a better system for exercising.
You can think of this like training a dragon. The thinking part of you -- the prefrontal cortex -- is a guy riding a dragon. The prefrontal cortex thinks it's smart, but it's riding this giant beast that's primitive and shoots flames. It responds best to rewards and cues, and if the dragon gets mad, you're in big trouble. That can depersonalize things to some extent. If you're trying to change your dragon and it doesn't like what you're doing, try to think of something else to make it work.
That gets back to the systems thinking. Ask, "What can I change and try again, and see if I can run it?"
If you're interested in finishing and completing more things, there's an interesting phase: instead of saying, "How can I ever finish?" replace it with "How can I start?" If you keep starting again and again, you'll get it done. Focus on the starting, not on the finishing.
Then, give yourself a big reward. Especially if it's late or overdue, we tend to beat ourselves up and feel bad about things. And that's detrimental -- negative feelings are detrimental, they hurt our willpower, and make us avoid whatever we feel negative about.
If something is late, START BY FORGIVING YOURSELF for whatever is going on. And then give yourself a big reward if you get it done. Try it out, most people don't want to reward themselves for doing something they suck at. But try it out, it might get yourself across the finish line.
Giving yourself rewards can be hard to do, because it feels arbitrary. This is where all this stuff with badges and gamification, it's designed to externalize the rewards.
I'm learning how to code and using something called Treehouse. I'm learning Ruby and I get a badge about Arrays or Hashes as I learn something and pass a quiz. Every couple exercises you'll get a short little funny/interesting video, you get to watch a little episode randomly when you complete a module. It totally motivates me to keep doing this. I've been trying to make REWARDS FEEL MORE EXTERNAL AND LESS LIKE I'M ARBITRARILY DOING SOMETHING.
The other part of it is a natural reward, a reward in the outside world… people get praised, get an external reward. If you can set this sort of reward up, where you know you're going to feel good after completing something, you'll get more done.
When I was a gymnast, our coach would get upset when we'd over think our training. It was at Stanford, so we all thought we were pretty smart kids. We'd be overanalyzing. The coach would say, 'Trust the training.' We think more when we're anxious, and less when we're relaxed… so how to get more relaxed? Trust what you're doing, and you'll relax.
An exercise I read recently in The Charisma Myth. It feels quite hokey, but it's tested with some very successful senior executives and it's gotten great results: Take a deep breath, close your eyes, imagine a large force -- the Universe, God, Fate, whatever you want to call it -- and imagine all your worries get sucked by the thing and everything is going to work our as well as it's supposed to, it's going to work out perfectly for you.
If you don't naturally have this thought, you can work on, this can help you get moving.
When you're paralyzed and not moving, you're spending part of your time thinking, 'Is what I'm doing the right thing? Should I be doing something else entirely?' But you often wind up doing nothing, which is the worst thing possible…this exercise lets you get into motion. Once you get to a certain threshold of very basic understanding, it's better to take action.
It's like General Patton said, "A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week."Jason's blog is The Art of Ass-Kicking. You can find his GiveGetWin deal, a class he's teaching on "The Science of Willpower" which will be fantastic.
Ok, this is the best piece I've read on Willpower, including your previous ones. Well written, covering a lot of ground, et etc. It's good because it explains some points people usually just mention without saying why, like starting small.
Thanks, Jason.
PS: to be perfect, you could include some links for papers you read, but here I'm already being too demanding. Thanks again, great work.
EDIT: oh, by the way, good resource on the topic, the rationally speaking podcast on Willpower: there I learned that eating chocolate can boost your short term willpower (I guess it works for any sort of glucose spike, but can't remember)
Thanks guys. Really appreciate Sebastian for sitting down with me and transcribing the conversation. A couple of great things to read:
The Willpower Instinct [book] Highly researched and fun to read, lots of citations: http://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Instinct-Self-Control-Works-Matters/dp/1583334386
Self-Regulation and Depletion of Limited Resources: Does Self-Control Resemble a Muscle? [pdf] Landmark meta-study that looked at tons of research over the years: http://psyserv06.psy.sbg.ac.at:5916/fetch/PDF/10978569.pdf
Longitudinal gains in self-regulation through regular exercise [pdf] This is the study on habits and how it affects other parts of your life: http://commonsenseatheism.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Oaten-Longitudinal-gains-in-self-regulation-from-regular-physical-exercise.pdf
To anyone that enjoyed this I also highly recommend reading: The Willpower Instinct
I listened to it as an audio book and it has great insights as well.
"Based on Stanford University psychologist Kelly McGonigal's wildly popular course "The Science of Willpower," The Willpower Instinct is the first book to explain the new science of self-control and how it can be harnessed to improve our health, happiness, and productivity. "
There are some fantastic insights in this post. I especially like how the author uses proven scientific knowledge in relation to personal development.
My main take-home lesson was about building little habits that help you get more done without draining your limited supply of willpower. I personally hate to admit that human willpower is a scarce resource that can be easily used up in short term, but we can learn from this and set up habits and systems that require little cognitive effort but help us get a lot more done.
This is a really powerful idea.
My favorite new idea in here is the roof analogy. If something doesn't work, it doesn't mean the whole thing is completely busted. You just need new materials/contractor/approach.
Also, I like the dragon analogy better than the elephant analogy :)
Jason Shen graciously contributed a new guestpost to the site -- his have always been popular here. He's running an online class on "The Science of Willpower, Habits, And Behavior Change" in January. Here's Jason --
Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy is one of my favorite films and the best comic book to film translation ever done. Nolan's take on Batman is gritty, heroic, fresh, and even somewhat plausible. One of my favorite scenes from the first film, Batman Begins, is when he is being trained by Ra's al Ghul on the art of ninjutsu. The key conversation I want to point out here:
George St. Pierre pummeling your untrained face
i just finished reading a book called "superhuman by habit'. It starts off by saying that all great people are great because of their habits. If it wasn't for those, they would just be normal people.
It continues to say that all of us have a very small amount of willpower at our disposal, and every single choice we make drains a little of it. So the idea is to eliminate as many choices from our day as possible by habitualizing them.
The important thing is to work on one habit at a time, until it feels normal (usually 21 days). Then start working on a new habit. You can really stockpile lots of good habits one after another.
Eventually it becomes effortless because when it's a habit, it's what's normal, you wouldn't think of doing anything else. All great people have a routine built upon habits they instituted one by one.
I just need to be consistent. Doing it every single day, and not getting caught up in perfectionism. If I can't think of what to write on this blog (my new habit). Then I'll write about how I can't think of what to write!


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New East and its fraternal twin, New West, were the last of the antebellum buildings. In 1855 the Executive Committee of the Trustees met with the faculty to discuss the ongoing problem of the Dialectic and Philanthropic societies, which were outgrowing their halls and libraries. In 1856, the committee invited A. J. Davis, the genius behind Smith Hall (Playmakers Theatre), to spend a week in Chapel Hill to survey the campus and make plans for possible new dormitories. Using Davis's subsequent recommendations, in 1857, the University Trustees authorized the Building Committee to make concrete plans for two new dormitories, on the condition that the buildings cost less than $30,000. In 1858, the committee was permitted to hire an architect and contractor.
Though A. J. Davis submitted designs, the contract was awarded to one of his competitors, William Percival. Percival was a retired English army officer who worked as an architect for a firm in Virginia. Percival's plans probably won out over Davis's because they called for exciting new technology: furnaces. Thomas Coates was the contractor for New East and New West, and the estimated cost for both buildings before construction was approximately $40,000.
New East was completed in 1860. It was four stories tall and housed the students of the Philanthropic Society in twenty-two rooms. New East also housed their debating hall and library and had a glassed-in observatory on the top floor. It measured 19,793 square feet. Though it was designed to look identical to its twin, New East is actually one story taller than New West. The reason for this discrepancy is unclear, but may have to do with different land elevations or a higher amount of private donations from Philanthropic Society alumni and families towards its construction than from the Dialectic Society for New West. The University perhaps should have gone with Davis's bid, as the total amount paid to Percival, including charges for routine repairs for other buildings, was $54,708.62. President David L. Swain and Paul Cameron's sister Mildred loaned some of this money to the Trustees. The furnaces never worked properly and fell into disuse. In 1871, the University closed and did not reopen until 1875. During this time New East sustained some damage, and was "apparently, the most illy [sic] constructed of all the buildings. Too much very inferior mortar was used, which has resulted in some places . . . in the falling of the stucco [. . .]" (Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina Records, Vol. S-7). Repairs were made the year the University reopened.
Works Consulted: Battle, Kemp P., History of the University of North Carolina, Spartanburg, SC: The Reprint Company, 1974; Henderson, Archibald, The Campus of the First State University, Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press, 1949; Link, Arthur Stanley, "A History of the Buildings at the University of North Carolina," B. A. Thesis, University of North Carolina, 1941; Records of the Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance #40095, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.


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OLDBOY One Sheet Poster Signed By Spike And Josh Brolin - $200
HE GOT GAME Authentic Jerseys - $750 (only 4 available)
Added A Great Talent To Our Two Stellar Leads - Mr. Michael K. Williams
Presenting Mr. Stephen Tyrone Williams - MALE LEAD on NEW SPIKE LEE JOINT
Presenting Ms. Zaraah Abrahams - FEMALE LEAD on NEW SPIKE LEE JOINT
I'm being asked and I'm responding to them the best way I know – with an HONEST ANSWER.
QUESTION #1 – Why are you on Kickstarter? You're an established wealthy Filmmaker!
I'm an Indie Filmmaker and I will always be an Indie Filmmaker. Indie Filmmakers are always in search of financing because their work, their vision sometimes does not coincide with Studio Pictures. But I do put my own money in my films. I self-financed RED HOOK SUMMER. My fee for MALCOLM X was put back into the budget. The truth is I've been doing KICKSTARTER before there was KICKSTARTER, there was no Internet. Social Media was writing letters, making phone calls, beating the bushes. I'm now using TECHNOLOGY with what I've been doing.
I had to do a PRE-KICKSTARTER Campaign to get my first feature SHE'S GOTTA HAVE IT done way back in 1985. The budget was $175,000. I Had to do a PRE-KICKSTARTER Campaign to get MALCOLM X finished in 1991 when the production ran out of money.
It was people like: PRINCE, JANET JACKSON, TRACY CHAPMAN, PEGGY COOPER CAFRITZ, MS. WINFREY, MAGIC JOHNSON AND MICHAEL JORDAN who STOOD UP, came to our rescue so you could see the MALCOLM X on screen we envisioned. I daresay without that PRE-KICKSTARTER approach Denzel's epic performance in it's entirety would not have seen the light of day. I say this all to say, what we are doing on KICKSTARTER is not new. Indie Filmmmakers need MONEY to do their ART. The ARTFORM of FILM COSTS MONEY. We are appealing to people who have enjoyed and supported my work in the past and would like it to continue into the FUTURE.
QUESTION #2 – You have never backed anyone on KICKSTARTER so why should we expect you to support us.
For the past 15 years I've been a Professor of Film at The NYU Graduate Film School and the Artistic Director for the last 5. What people do not know is that I've had a SPIKE LEE PRODUCTION FUND to assist NYU GRAD FILM STUDENTS with grants to do their FILMS. Since the 1989/90 NYU School Year I have given out Production Grants to 44 NYU GRAD FILM students totally over $300,000.
I did not give back KICKSTARTER in the past because I was backing my NYU students. Now that I'm on KICKSTARTER that will change. This narrative that I'm greedy, do not support, care or nurture young Filmmakers is so far from the truth it's not even funny. I would not be teaching FILM for as long as I have if I didn't care about young Filmmakers.
QUESTION #3 – Spike, you on KICKSTARTER is hurting the young filmmakers.
This is another fallacy. The fact of the matter is I'm bringing exposure to KICKSTARTER, backers to KICKSTARTER who have never even heard of KICKSTARTER before. The same was true of the VERONICA MARS and ZACH BRAFF'S projects. There was also a study done that had data to prove we did not hurt the young filmmakers on KICKSTARTER either.
QUESTION #4 – Why are you not more forthcoming on the Details of your KICKSTARTER Project?
The reason I have not disclosed more info on the story is because: It's a THRILLER. In order for a film of this type to work the less details the better for this Film to work with the Audience, they can't know a whole lot before they sit down in a Theatre to see it. Yeah I know, I'm asking for BACKERS for a film they don't know a lot about. My answer to that is TRUST ME. I hope you have seen some things over the past 3 decades making FILMS that can earn your TRUST.
What I can tell you is this. I have never made a film like this and it excites me very much. I'm doing a semi-genre film about ADDICTION. These people are ADDICTED to BLOOD. Yet however they are not VAMPIRES. It's going to be SEXY, HUMOROUS and BLOODY. To me that's a unique combination.
I hope my answers to your questions have been provided the information you asked for. I totally understand how strange it might seem to look for me, Spike Lee on KICKSTARTER asking for BACKERS. I say – welcome to THE WORLD OF CROWDFUNDING. Whether you like it or not it is not going away. The FUTURE is here.
I deeply appreciate everyone and I mean everyone who has stood up, backed our PROJECT so we can MAKE HISTORY.
Peace and Love,
Spike Lee - Filmmaker
Photo of the Day
I was elated to get the call from the Michael Jackson Estate and Sony Records that they wanted me to direct a Documentary about the making of Michael Jackson's Bad Album. And when they both said they want the focus to be on the music, the Artist I was even happier. Any Follow-up to THRILLER, still the Biggest Selling Album of ALL TIME was gonna have a tough going. Many shortsighted critics called it a feeble attempt to top Thriller. HA, little did they know. BAD can go toe to toe with Thriller. The biggest question I had was this, "Can I be allowed to go into the vast and numerous MJ Vaults." The answer was "Yes, use what you need." What more can a Filmmaker ask for. I Love Michael Joseph Jackson and I feel it's evident in BAD 25. HEE HEE HEE. SHAMON.
For previous Photos of the Day, go to the 40 Acres BLOG
Want multiple rewards? Check out FAQ on how you can.
We've added another city for the Premiere of our film. CHICAGO, stand up.
ALSO, added rewards that include: TWO Tickets to the Premiere of our film (Choose between NYC, LA & Chicago), a meet & greet and Premiere After Party.
One Sheets of my films have been added to the Rewards. Check out the images of the one sheets HERE and the prices are listed in the Rewards to the right.
We've also added a $10 Reward of a Postcard from one of my various films signed by me. As well as a Vintage Patch from the MALCOLM X crew jackets signed by me at the same price (as pictured below).
We've pulled more items from our vaults. Grab yourself a 40 Acres Patch signed by Spike, an Uplift the Race the Construction of SCHOOL DAZE book signed by Spike, or a Gift Pack of Items signed by Spike - a Spike's Joint Bag, a Vintage Malcolm X Patch, a Postcard from one of his various films, as well as a tweet from Spike and Behind the Scenes Project Updates.
Vintage American flag MALCOLM X patch custom made for the Official Crew Jackets signed by Spike.
NEW T-shirt is up for your $40 pledge
One of Four X American Flags used in the opening credits of the epic MALCOLM X. (dimensions: 13" x 14")
MO' BETTER BLUES 23rd Anniversary Rewards - Vintage Pin (1.5" x 2.25") and the film's companion Book
***Join the great Raphael Saadiq and Spike for a one time recording session in his own LA studio. As we observe him record the songs from our Film.***
Since Saadiq's early days with the groundbreaking 80's soul trio Tony! Toni! Tone! the Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and record producer has carried the torch for old school R&B. In addition to releasing critically acclaimed solo albums like Ray Ray and Instant Vintage (nominated for five GRAMMYs), for the last two decades Saadiq has worked behind the scenes as a celebrated producer, collaborator and sideman for big-time acts like D'Angelo, John Legend, Joss Stone, The Roots, A Tribe Called Quest, Stevie Wonder, The Bee Gees, The Isley Brothers, Mary J. Blige, TLC, Whitney Houston, Snoop Dogg, Earth, Wind and Fire and the list goes on and on. Now, at the peak of his creativity Saadiq is finally ready to soak up the spotlight alone with Stone Rollin' [his fourth studio album]. [Source]
Five custom designed Jordans by world renowned designer, Van Monroe. We pick the Jordan and you pick the Joint. Here are two examples of his work.
More from our vaults, BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF THE MAKING OF MALCOLM X book autographed by Spike.
Badges (4" x 6") from our various Brooklyn Loves MJ Party signed by Spike.
Double sided one sheet of 25TH HOUR signed by Barry Pepper and Spike.
Two Michael Ray Charles Paintings
Michael Ray Charles's graphically styled paintings investigate racial stereotypes drawn from a history of American advertising, product packaging, billboards, radio jingles and television commercials. [PBS]
(Forever Free) What time Iszit?, 1998
Acrylic latex, stain, oil wash and copper penny on paper
36 x 22 inches
91.4 x 55.8 cm
(Forever Free) The Rise and the Fall, 1998
Acrylic latex, stain, oil wash and copper penny on paper
36 x 22 inches
91.4 x 55.8 cm
For the Michael Jackson Fans, BAD 25 Blu-rays signed by Spike. There are only 50. Grab one quick.
From Our Vaults, Vintage Spike's Joint bumper stickers signed by Spike.
THE BOOMBOX PROJECT book by Lyle Owerko - $100
BOOMBOX print by Lyle Owerko $1500
Limited Edition LE BOOK Tribute to Spike Lee - $500
Jermaine Rogers Artist Proof from 2009 Afropunk Festival in Brooklyn - $500
CROOKLYN Rap Quotes Project by Jay Shells - $500
Long Live Radio Raheem by Goldi Gold - $300
Spike Joint by Goldi Gold - $500
Portrait of Spike by Barron Claiborne - $5000
Print from Marc Baptiste's book INTIMATE Nudes - $5000 (nudity is cropped out of this image for the web)
Promotional OLDBOY Umbrella - $300
Rare Brooklyn Loves Michael Jackson Celebration Poster - $100
For the Ladies - "THE NEWEST HOTTEST SPIKE LEE JOINT" Womens Tees $25
"THE NEWEST HOTTEST SPIKE LEE JOINT" Men's Tee as modeled by Actor Rami Malek - $30
OLDBOY One Sheet Poster Signed By Spike and Josh Brolin - $200
Risks and challenges
Please look at my body of work over the past three decades. If we are successful in attaining our goal of $1,250,000, this new Spike Lee Joint will get made. You can count on it. Only an Act of God can stop this. And dat's da "100% guaranteed" truth, Ruth.Learn about accountability on Kickstarter


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RBS Dances to Government's Tune
The British government, once a silent shareholder, is increasingly calling the shots at Royal Bank of Scotland, the bank it bailed out in 2008. WSJ's Max Colchester has the details. Photo: Getty Images
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... the the ... oil ... spill ... majority and by the British government has revealed it ... sees white and again ... that place thousand also revealed that its biggest shareholder is becoming more involved in the running of the ... Max Colchester be looking this and joins me now marks ... first film and oversee won a two one percent of the bond house ... initially fatty side and lungs even have its best to see it so that the same thing ... sitting multiple but Clinton on the now will scuttle ... flow of things since two thousand and ten missing a set of gradual shift in strategy ... under the Labour government before then the strategy was always ... that has the run the buying and then we can privatizing quickly make him in the money and then back and get out ... now we see banking scandals we've seen the buying struggling to make profits ... to sum it up privatization isn't gonna happen anytime soon ... so Sundays the city government take a more active role ... a nice ... visit ... and rising anti-infective Iraq ... I'm and this isn't just about in a rebel write a mean the robot ... Goldman is doing things to ... me as old as the government of Syrian he made the mine is the largest gold agrees with the strategy which is sensitive to shrink ... the investment bank ... and also so basically retreated from the U S where US citizens business ... to refocus on Monday in the UK ... and help boost the economy and ... now I mean increased government obesity out ... in any ... way at so called way through the election cycle next one during two thousand and fifteen is the key thing playing a role in this is ... is there a sort of ... Target to get some money pocketing the event ... obviously I mean that we obviously ... disagree with that and so the width of the child's life and you can find minds think of how the government ... they they say they wanna get the best deal possible that that has not means selling at the right time ... but all this leave me so Chris Leslie this habit of ... shadow Treasury minister ... today say well maybe this is a bit with the Osborne plant today saying ... oh we welcome the striving to shrink and the folks on the U K ... and you know ... the obvious the salesmen returned to sell off of that in two thousand fifteen pills before to ... try to come to a worse than that I made the question what is the top right because you know he was we have seen some improvement asset prices lately in recent months ... of the financial service industries are so free press Ryan ... but if ... that's going around well I mean the fact is that they they both enter added to the high price at ... in the know in a given year ... and said it could take many more I mean this this is the second to two years ... before they can reduce the beginning selling down just as that by the news ... is that the nuns to those of the markets with in the meantime and in us having to ... adapt to the regular tree changes ... looming in the map software ... Samsung quickly last question I mean will the government all that I'm that ... that bubbly get his ... money back ... it depends how you define money back but they they win something at some point


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Circle Bases - Size Sampler multi
These are bases for mini figures that I designed. These use my Mark II design for the slot that creates a spring force in the mini figure with a small bump. They have a strait section to easily insert the figure, then sliding it a bit to the side slides it over the bump.
Custom bases are made and cut to order. There can be a production time delay while your bases are hand painted, possibly textured, or stenciled, and clear-coated with multiple layers of protective finish. Inevitably with lots of sanding in there too. Can be any color, or multiple colors with texturing for forest (green shades, brown shades) or maybe icy (blue shades, White), Blood spatter (top coat of red splatter), Dungeon Cobblestone (gradianted background, stencil stones, shadow wash, dry brush highlights). Give me a target and I will aim my art.
Random finished bases are made out of the left overs from custom sets or from my experiments into different finishes and multiples of bases that are thematically cool. Chances are high that I will have these on hand so they are faster than Custom, but a bit slower.
Unfinished bases are the starting block. I have a TON of them on hand. They are the cheapest option and fastest shipping. They have the back sided painted black, and front side unfinished.


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A "Justice League" movie was confirmed to be in development at Warner Bros. in late April, following years of speculation and rumor, not to mention a general sense that such a thing was probably inevitable after the massive success of Marvel's "Avengers" film.
Another Justice League team -- "Justice League Dark," focusing on the supernatural superheroes of DC Comics -- has also been in development at Warner Bros., with "Hellboy" and "Pacific Rim" director Guillermo del Toro attached since 2012. It's been a while since the last update on the long-percolating film, but as of last November, it was still in the works according to del Toro, and intended to be part of a shared live-action DC Universe.
If the DC film franchise grows into the Marvel Studios-type success Warner Bros. clearly hopes it will -- just look at the title for 2016's "Man of Steel" follow-up "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," and the multiple superheroes set to in the film -- "Justice League Dark" might become a reality sooner rather than later. But which heroes might play a part in the film? Here are 13 educated guesses.
Doctor Fate
Doctor Fate has been around since 1940, defending reality from primal gods and nether beings. As the mightiest wizard in the DC Universe, Fate has served on many teams over his storied career, including comic's first super-team, the Justice Society of America. Del Toro could perfectly capture the heroic Kent Nelson, wielder of the Helmet of Nabu and Amulet of Anubis, a man possessed by a Lord of Order and charged with protecting the Earth from all things monstrous. From his earliest stories in "New Fun Comics," Fate's adventures have been some of the strangest and most most mind bending stories readers have ever experienced -- right up del Toro's dark alley. Plus, Fate's costume is one of the all-time greats on the printed page and is practically begging for a shot as a movie icon.
Just like in the comics, Doctor Fate could be joined on-screen by his greatest ally, his wife Inza, who is every bit the champion her helmeted husband is and even wielded the Helmet of Fate herself for a time. This is a husband-and-wife team who defends reality from demons and darkness that would add an emotional, human element to a film otherwise steeped in the supernatural.
RELATED: Gordon-Levitt Attached to "Sandman" Film as Producer, Possible Star
Sandman (Wesley Dodds)
With Joseph Gordon-Levitt and David S. Goyer both attached to DC Entertainment's planned "Sandman" film, a "Justice League Dark" movie would likely need some connection to the storied Sandman name. Wesley Dodds, the first of several DC characters to bear the Sandman moniker, could act as a precursor to the world of Morpheus. A masked crime fighter gifted (or cursed) with premonitions of crimes in his dreams, Dodds could serve as a bridge between DC superheroes and the strange world of Vertigo. There are tons of stories that could begin with a man who journeys to the Dreaming to find whatever devil the dark Justice League must face. DC has so many amazing Golden Age heroes whose heydays all came before big budget comic book movies became the norm, and it would be nice to see a DC film pay tribute to the company's heroic roots. Dodds starred in Vertigo's "Sandman Mystery Theatre" for years, so his horror cred is already well established. Before fans potentially journey to the Dreaming in a "Sandman" feature film, their first guide can be the first Sandman, the brave and mysterious Wesley Dodds.
Phantom Stranger
Some of the greatest creators in comic book history have worked on the Phantom Stranger -- Len Wein, Paul Levitz, Mike Mignoa, Robert Kanigher, Jim Aparo, Neal Adams, Tony DeZuniga and most recently, J.M. Dematteis -- each adding to the legacy of DC's most mysterious hero. The Phantom Stranger's enigmatic nature would play well in a "Justice League Dark" film; in fact, the Stranger could be the one to gather the world's strangest heroes to stop some massive conflict that can't be attacked with brute force alone. The Stranger has played a vital role in the "New 52," and has had ties to the Justice League in the past, making him a natural fit for del Toro's film. If you're going to have a grouping of strange heroes, it needs at least one of them in a trench coat and a fedora. The Stranger has walked through history, and with this mysterious mystic as part of del Toro's "League," the Cinematic DC universe could have a greater sense of cohesion to its own developing past.
While Zatanna would be a fantastic recruit for the regular Justice League," this powerful sorceress is one of the few characters that can walk in both the light and the "Dark." Zatanna is equally comfortable amidst superheroes as she is the more sublime and fantastic world of magic. She could appear in both films as a liaison between the Leagues and could be the gateway character for viewers with which to see the monsters, mages and other characters who inhabit the shadows. If expansion is the goal for the DC Cinematic Universe, fans could suffer a much worse fate than Zatanna as the connective tissues between movies.
Swamp Thing
Though he's already starred in two movies and a live-action TV series, none of them have done the Guardian of the Green justice. Swamp Thing needs a proper film treatment, worthy of the character reinvented by Alan Moore in the '80s that helped give birth to DC's Vertigo Comics imprint. It would take a skilled filmmaker to give fans such a tale, but Guillermo del Toro is exactly such a filmmaker. With "Constantine" coming to television this Fall, it's important for fans to remember that John Constantine got his start in the pages of Moore's "Swamp Thing." In fact, numerous elements that make up DC's modern world of magic began in those same pages. Del Toro showed his chops and deft hand on the "Hellboy" films and if anyone could reintroduce the concept and character to a wide audience -- he'd be the guy. It's possible his arch nemesis, Anton Arcane, could even be the perfect villain for a "Justice League Dark" film.
A classic version of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" is another project del Toro has circled for years (the most recent rumor had Benedict Cumberbatch in the leading role). There is no doubt del Toro has the sensibility to give fans a unique view of the "Frankenstein" legend, and it doesn't get more unique than mashing Frankenstein up with the world of DC Comics. "Frankenstein and the Agents of S.H.A.D.E." was one of the more creative spots in the early days of the New 52, and much like "Swamp Thing" and "Hellboy," it seems like a perfect playground for del Toro. An established literary legend could only enhance the cool factor of the potential "Dark" franchise, albeit with the proper twists and updates. DC's version of Frankenstein is a globetrotting adventurer with the soul of a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, a super spy and freedom fighting monster that is more hero than monster -- on top of that, this version of the monster killed Hitler. There may not be another character in DC Comics' roster that screams del Toro louder than Frankenstein.
Etrigan, the Demon
Every comic film should have a little Jack Kirby, and the Demon would be perfect for this one. Thanks to the brilliance of not only Kirby, but Alan Moore, Matt Wagner, Garth Ennis and more, Etrigan is one of DC's most iconic monster heroes (and sometimes villain). The story of Jason Blood is a sweeping saga that begins in Camelot and continues in the modern day, perfect movie plot fodder. The character's rhyming tendencies may be tricky to get across in a sufficiently imposing manner, but the demonic Jekyll and Hyde story of a good man and the evil locked inside would be just too solid to pass up, and visually, Etrigan is right in del Toro's wheelhouse.
How is it that there hasn't been a "Deadman" movie or television show yet? A dead circus performer who possesses the bodies of the living to solve crimes while trying to find his own murderer -- now that's a procedural! From the original "Deadman" by Arnold Drake, Carmine Infantino, Neal Adams and Jack Miller to the modern day adventures of the character in the "New 52," Deadman has always been the core of DC's stable of weird characters, a ghost "detective" trying to solve his own murder -- the character fits in perfectly with the JL Dark characters in the comics, and in del Toro's hands could be the breakout star of a "Dark" film.
ROLL CALL: Eight Heroes Who Would Make the "Justice League" Movie Great
First appearing in "Strange Adventures" #187 (April 1966) and created by Bob Haney and Howard Purcell, June Moone is one of the lesser known heroes in DC's pantheon. In John Ostrander's "Suicide Squad," she was presented as a troubled but very powerful sorceress, an emerald-clad, very visceral and disturbing character. The Enchantress has flip-flopped from hero to villain over the years, an unstable force of magic in the DC Universe, vacillating between mystic savior and potential threat. The character could serve as a counterpoint to the white magic-wielding Zatanna, providing del Toro's "Dark" squad an air of monstrous uncertainty.
Ragman is one of the lesser known of Joe Kubert's many creations, but he is also one of the most compelling. Kubert is best remembered for his genre defining war comics, but with Ragman, the legendary artist proved he could do effective horror as well. The Tatterdemalion of Justice was introduced in 1976 in a self-titled series, and ever since, Ragman has maintained a a fringe horror-based presence in the DCU. Rory Regan was a junk shop owner who was bonded with a mystic suit of rags after he was murdered, each rag of the suit containing a murdered soul seeking justice. A modern day golem, Ragman is a character steeped in Jewish history and mysticism, a shadowy vigilante prowling the streets in search of justice for the helpless, the lost, and the broken. The mind boggles at what del Toro could do with one of strangest and most original characters waiting for a chance at film glory.
Yeah, we know -- he's soon to be a television sensation, but since we're discussing del Toro's hypothetical movie, there's no way we're leaving John Constantine off our roster. Everyone's favorite British bastard has been a staple of DC's magical realms since Alan Moore first introduced the magical con-man in "The Saga of the Swamp Thing" #37. Some of the greatest visionaries in comics have crafted Constantine's mythology, including Jamie Delano, Neil Gaiman, Garth Ennis, Grant Morrison, Warren Ellis, and more, giving del Toro decades of stories to mine for the big screen Constantine fans have always dreamed of. Constantine lives in a perpetual shade of grey, protecting reality from otherworldly demonic threats. Constantine would set del Toro's film apart from the crowded comic book film pack; a non-costumed, chain smoking egomaniac who also happens to be the only man who has the nerve to bring together a team of monsters, demons, wizards and myths.
Doctor Occult
He was DC's first character, and arguably, the first superhero in comics, which feeds right into del Toro's love of the classics -- it simply doesn't get more classical than the original super-powered mystic detective. Richard Occult (who can resist a character with that moniker?) was created by none other than Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two young men from Cleveland who would go on to create Superman just three years later. Two of comics' greatest fountainheads cut their teeth on a character who was the mystic Sam Spade, a hard-hitting, hard-nosed investigator of the supernatural. It would be beautiful to include the trenchcoated hero that not only began the tradition of mysticism in the DC Universe, but was also created by the men whose greatest character became the spark for the entire DC Universe.
Kid Eternity
Another Golden Age hero, Kid Eternity has one of the coolest power sets in comics and would be a natural fit on the big screen. When "Kit" Freeman's life was taken sooner than destiny had preordained, he was returned to life and granted the power to temporarily bring any dead person back to life by shouting the word "Eternity." Just think about the film potential of that power! Kid Eternity might not be the most well known of DC's pantheon of mystic heroes, but he has a compelling origin, a rich history and perhaps the coolest ability on the list. Seeing him pal around with Deadman as interpreted by del Toro could be worth the price of a ticket alone!


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Ideal for drainage products where flexibility, light weight and low costs are important.
Highway pipe single wall used for residential foundations, edge drains, culverts and sub-drainage applications.


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7 Doll Types
There are thousands of Doll Types out there but here at ebeanstalk we pick the best fun developmental learning Doll Types for you. Our team of child-experts review and test each toy and pick out the best. They matched all the Doll Types to a child's development. It's because of this process that we at ebeanstalk can guarantee a child's fun.


text: American women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers during World War II, as widespread male enlistment left gaping holes in the industrial labor force. Between 1940 and 1945, the female percentage of the U.S. workforce increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent, and by 1945 nearly one out of every four married women worked outside the home. "Rosie the Riveter," star of a government campaign aimed at recruiting female workers for the munitions industry, became perhaps the most iconic image of working women during the war.


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ANALYSIS: Seafood Items Swimming Upstream in October
LISTEN: NOAA's Report on Recovering Endangered Species; Seafood Makes You Smarter and More
Large Players Purchase Majority of Quota During Russian Crab Auctions
Though Profits Look Grim on Paper, Guolian has Rosy Prospects
Coast Guard Medevacs Man from Alaska Ocean Vessel 15 miles West of Coos Bay
Maine Announces Opening of Scallop License Lottery
Canadian Seafood Company, Owner Pleads Guilty to Illegal Importing Fish into U.S.
SeafoodNews.com Summary Monday, October 21
NOAA Fisheries Releases Report to Congress on Recovering Threatened and Endangered Species 2017-2018
Rioting in Ecuador Hinders Shrimp Exports, Affecting Chinese Markets
VIDEO: Seafood Makes You Smart; Climate-Ready Fisheries Act; Aquaculture Management; Anchovies
CA Congressman Huffman Introduces The Salmon FISH Act
Recaps of AK Salmon Fishery by Region
New Seasoned Shrimp Line Launched by Pacific Seafood
Cod or Haddock? UMass Amherst Taste Test Looks at 'Name Bias' and Fisheries Sustainability
Research off New England Finds Promising Habitat for Blue Mussel Farms
Mical Seafood Expands Tuna Recall Due to Possible Scombroid Poisoning
Thai Union Creates Venture Fund for Innovation in Food Technology
Melting Permafrost Shown to Release Mercury in Arctic Areas
Gulf Menhaden Fishery Achieves MSC Certification
New Aqua Feed Ingredient Verified For Sale In Europe
Interactive Tool Looks at Environmental and Social Performance of Global Seafood Production
SeafoodNews.com Summary Friday, October 18
Seafood Does Make You Smart: New Study Links Consumption to Higher IQ in Children
Sen. Cantwell Urges NOAA to Better Manage Fish Farming, Citing 2017 Salmon Spill in Puget Sound
Genetic Evidence Points to Large-scale PCod Migration North in Bering Sea
Scientists: Hawai'i Swordfish Fishery Has No Discernable Impact on Sea Turtle Populations
Fishermen Use Electronic Reporting in Real Time to Help Understand Ocean Ecosystem
Cooke Aquaculture to Pay $156k to Fund Maine Salmon Restoration Project Following Violations
Science Means Lower Herring Harvests in the Gulf of Georgia
Russian King Crab Seizes a Greater Market Share in China
AquaMaof Reveals Land-Based R&D Facility for Shrimp Production
Government Urging Fishermen to Remove Gear from non-UK Waters with Brexit Looming
Seafood Industry Responds to "Fishing for Catastrophe Report"
SeafoodNews.com Summary Thursday, October 17
Invasive Fresh Water Plant Eradication Important to Protect Salmon Watersheds, ISER Study Says
New Data Makes Case for Anchovy Abundance as Oceana Lawsuit Continues
Inland Seafood Joins Distributor Group Sea Pact
Climate Change Impacts on Fisheries Gains Traction in U.S. House of Representatives
Fishing Update, October 2019
Russia May Propose Revision to Existing US-USSR Maritime Border Agreement
FSU Researchers Examine Trends in Global Aquaculture
Universities Leading Research to Develop Tools to Support East Coast Oyster Aquaculture
Coast Guard Rescues 2 After Boat Collision Northwest of Dry Tortugas
SeafoodNews.com Summary Wednesday, October 16
The Winding Glass: With China Gaining Bigger Seafood Footprint, US Market Losing Control of Pricing
ANALYSIS: Stone Crab Season Kicks-off on October 15
Ocean Acidification Updates for Alaska Board of Fisheries
Danish Land-based Salmon Farm Nominated for "Star of Innovation" Award 2019
ICL Planning to Expand in the Plant-based Meat Market
SeafoodNews.com Summary Tuesday, October 15
After Fire, Captain D's Reopens 70th Alabama Location
First RAS Coho Salmon Farm Earns BAP Certification
FishServe Welcome Kerry Prendergast to the Board
Chinese Show More Willingness to Buy Seafood Online
Imported fresh food has become increasingly popular on China's e-commerce platforms within recent years. As statistics from JD show, during the recent online shopping festival on June 18, the platform sold out as much as 6,700 tons of imported fresh food. Among them, imported seafood has enjoyed an obvious increase in sales, especially during such promotion festivals.
JD is said to have sold nearly 4 million giant tiger prawns during the festival, while 860,000 crayfish were sold out within the first three minutes of the festival...
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Chinese Show More Willingness to Buy Seafood Online
Imported fresh food has become increasingly popular on China's e-commerce platforms within recent years. As statistics from JD show, during the recent online shopping festival on June 18, the platform sold out as much as 6,700 tons of imported fresh food. Among them, imported seafood has enjoyed an obvious increase in sales, especially during such promotion festivals.
JD is said to have sold nearly 4 million giant tiger prawns during the festival, while 860,000 crayfish were sold out within the first three minutes of the festival...
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SeafoodNews.com is the most widely read seafood industry news in North America, with subscribers in over 50 countries. We provide a quick daily snapshot of the global seafood industry. Published in partnership with Urner Barry, the leading provider of seafood price, foreign trade and import data, we focus on the business side of the industry, plus everything that affects it. Our largest reader category is seafood buyers, followed by producers, importers and exporters, then distributors. Try us and you will be hooked.
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Your ultimate guide to treating spring allergies
With warmer weather comes one of Mother Nature's cruelest jokes: the onslaught of allergy season, which sends us scurrying back indoors. Why now? It's not only the birds and the bees getting it on come springtime. After a long hibernation, trees, flowers and grass all begin to bud, bloom and, uh, mate, sending out pollen in an effort to get busy with another plant. That potent substance is what makes us sneeze, sniffle…and long for a dousing rain.
About one in five American women has allergic rhinitis (the technical name for any allergy that affects the nose), and more of us join the ranks every year. One possible reason: Due to increasingly more immunizations and greater cleanliness, today's adults were exposed to fewer infections as kids, making our immune system hypersensitive to allergens, explains Martha White, M.D., research director of the Institute for Asthma & Allergy in Wheaton, Maryland. Meanwhile, factories and cars are spewing more diesel pollution, which turns on the immune system and directs it to increase allergic responses. But take heart: Experts are discovering more and better ways to fend off and treat allergies, and we've gathered their best science-based tips here to help you find fast and lasting relief. Soon you'll say so long to congestion and brain fog and welcome a happy, healthy spring.
The symptoms start with a cluster of sneezes, followed shortly by a stuffed-up nose. Within hours, you're so congested, you can hardly breathe. Did you catch a bug—or did your blooming tulips catch up with you?
YOU HAVE SEASONAL ALLERGIES if your runny nose and watery eyes are also itchy, says Sheldon Spector, M.D., clinical professor of medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles. You may also have a slight cough and symptoms that show no signs of abating after one week.
YOU HAVE A COLD if that drippy, sneezy nose comes with a sore throat, persistent cough, body aches and possibly a fever. The surest sign? Colds go away or dramatically diminish after about a week.
YOU HAVE NONALLERGIC RHINITIS if your symptoms feel like allergies but are brought on by nonallergens such as cold air and perfume, and they aren't seasonal or cyclical. Another clue: Your nose feels more twitchy than itchy, Dr. Spector says. Doctors don't know exactly why some people have rhinitis without allergies, and often the only way to get a diagnosis is to see an allergist, who can test your reaction to typical allergy triggers.
YOU HAVE A SINUS INFECTION if your mucus turns a deep yellow or green, you run a fever and you have sinus pressure or other facial or ear pain that gets worse when you lean forward or touch your brow bone or cheeks. These sinus symptoms can mean you have an infection, so see your doc.
Q: I've made it this far without allergies. Does that mean I'm in the clear?
Not necessarily, says Neeti Gupta, M.D., an allergist affiliated with the University Medical Center at Princeton in New Jersey. You can develop allergies at any age, and you're particularly vulnerable after you move to a different part of the state or country (for instance, after graduating from college, when you get married or to live closer to a new job). That's because changing locations can bring exposure to local allergens your body hasn't yet encountered. What's more, allergies are cumulative, Dr. Gupta says. "Think of your body as a glass filled halfway with things you're allergic to," she explains. "You may be asymptomatic now, but if more allergens are added to the glass and they spill over the rim, you can develop symptoms."
Surprising allergy side effects
Allergy sufferers are more likely to experience…
Depression Turns out that suicide rates among women are twice as high during peak tree-pollen periods, one study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore reports. Women with allergies had elevated levels of cytokines, proteins that can disrupt sleep and mood. Experiencing persistent depression or insomnia? Call your doctor.
Asthma One in four people with seasonal allergies also has asthma, with symptoms that include chest tightness and wheezing. "The allergic reaction activates inflammation elsewhere in the body, including the lungs, causing airways to narrow," explains Philip Gallagher, M.D., an allergy and immunology specialist in Erie, Pennsylvania. Inhaled or nasal steroids can help keep both conditions under control.
Migraines One theory posits that an allergic reaction causes inflammation that contributes to blood vessel dilation in the head—the first phase of a migraine. Migraines and sinus headaches are similar, so discuss symptoms and treatment options with your doc.
Why do allergies make me feel as if I have a cold if I'm not actually ill?
Although allergy and cold symptoms can feel the same, what's happening on a cellular level is very different. When you breathe in the cold virus, it infects nasal cells and replicates until the cells explode. Before those cells die, they activate the immune response and cause sneezing and a runny nose in an effort to flush out the virus. During an allergic reaction, however, no cells are destroyed. Here's how it plays out:
Your guide to smarter gardening
Sounds odd, but trees can be either male or female—and, natch, it's the boy trees who are the troublemakers. They produce all the pollen and count on the wind and gravity to deliver it to the females. On the way, a lot of it ends up in our nose. Pollen can travel for miles, but the high-pollen trees by your front door do you the most harm, says horticulturist Thomas Ogren, author of Allergy-Free Gardening (Ten Speed Press). "You can have huge improvements in allergy symptoms by enlisting a horticulturist to help you replace male trees in your yard," he says, and by planting flowers that aren't wind-pollinated. Get started with his guidelines for what to plant or yank.
Tree flower clusters with multiple exposed stamens (pollen-bearing organs) are a sign that the tree is wind-pollinated and high-allergy.
Berries, fruit, nuts and seed pods indicate a pollen-free female tree. They're low-allergy—but be aware that they also make a mess.
Multipetaled tree flowers have fewer stamens and thus count on bugs for pollination. These trees are both pretty and allergy-friendly.
Petal-less flowers (ragweed, goldenrod) are top allergy culprits. The wind pollinates them. They have no petals and a lot of exposed stamens.
Single-petaled flowers (daisies, lilac) have some exposed stamens, but the bright petals also attract pollinating bees. Don't bring them inside.
Multipetaled flowers (rose impatiens, azaleas) have fewer stamens; their showy flowers attract bugs for pollen transfer—no wind needed.
Try these easy tips for minimizing allergy symptoms. The more you use, the better!
Close your windows and turn on an air conditioner or dehumidifer to keep out allergens whenever pollen counts rise. Find local allergen levels at Pollen.com.
Allergy symptoms worsen on high-pollution days, so stay on top of pollution levels at Weather.com.
Leave your shoes by the front door to avoid tracking in pollen, grass and other allergens.
Pollen can cling to pets' fur. Wipe down your furry guys with a damp towel before letting them come back into the house.
Beach it! Pollen counts are lower near the shore, so plan a seaside getaway for peak pollen weeks.
Put a HEPA filter in your vacuum cleaner or home furnace system or ductwork. Look for one labeled true or absolute, meaning it's certified to trap about 99 percent of particulates. Avoid ionic filters, which can generate harmful ozone.
Exercise at dusk. A.M. dampness increases mold counts in the morning. At midday, when temps are high, plants open up and release pollen as they absorb heat.
When traveling, request a "pure" hotel room. Many chains have options with germ killers and air filters that clear the air of allergens every 15 minutes. Find one at pureroom.com.
Hire that teenage kid in your neighborhood to mow the lawn and bag clippings. Stay inside while he works—mowing kicks up more pollen into the air.
Use your clothes dryer. Hanging laundry out on the line to dry invites pollen to nestle in the fabrics.
Eat right, breathe easily
Ever bite an apple and felt your mouth itch or swell? You might be allergic to birch pollen. Foods that are in the same family as trees, grasses and weeds you're allergic to share similar protein structures, so if you're allergic to one, you could react to the others, Ogren explains. Called oral allergy syndrome, it kicks in when allergen counts are high. Other common cross-reactions: birch and peaches; grass and watermelon; ragweed and melon. The good news: Enjoying certain tasty foods can help ease seasonal allergies.
Q: Is it true that enjoying local honey can ease allergies?
The jury's still out. The theory goes that if you eat local honey made by bees that used pollen from nearby plant life, you're eating the same pollen that plagues you each spring and you can gradually build up your tolerance to it. Herbalists swear by this trick. Medical doctors say it might work, although it's impossible to know how much of which pollens are in your honey, so you risk worsening symptoms. Don't try it if you have a bee-venom allergy. Otherwise, give it a go: Savor one-eighth teaspoon of honey, and if your symptoms don't flare up, have one-eighth tsp a day for a week, then slowly increase the amount.
More than half of allergy sufferers with mild to moderate symptoms fail to seek treatment. Don't suffer needlessly this season; use this handy remedy chart to find relief.
DRUG Antihistamines
OTC/RX Both (Zyrtec, Allegra, respectively)
HELPS TREAT Runny nose and watery eyes
HOW IT WORKS Blocks the ability of histamines to promote allergy symptoms
CONSIDER May cause drowsiness; opt for nonsedating formulas like Claritin.
DRUG Intranasal saline spray
OTC/RX OTC or make it at home
HELPS TREAT Nasal and sinus congestion
HOW IT WORKS Irrigates the nose to flush out allergens
CONSIDER Iodized salt can sting; mix 1/4 tsp noniodized salt with 1/2 cup water.
DRUG Decongestants
HELPS TREAT Nasal and sinus congestion
HOW IT WORKS Narrows nasal blood vessels to shrink swollen tissue and open airways
CONSIDER Possible blood pressure rise; eye drops and sprays can worsen symptoms.
DRUG Mast cell stabilizers
OTC/RX Both (Patanol, Zaditor)
HELPS TREAT Sneezing, runny nose, itching and congestion
HOW IT WORKS Prevents mast cells from releasing histamines
CONSIDER Nasal sprays may take a few weeks to achieve the full effect.
DRUG Corticosteroids (nasal steroids)
OTC/RX Rx (Veramyst, Nasonex)
HELPS TREAT Congestion, runny nose, sneezing and itchy nose and eyes
HOW IT WORKS Reduces inflammation to limit eye watering and mucus production
CONSIDER Some users experience headaches or a light nasal burning sensation.
DRUG Leukotriene antagonists
OTC/RX Rx (Singulair)
HELPS TREAT Allergy-induced asthma and most allergy symptoms
HOW IT WORKS Blocks the effects of leukotrienes
CONSIDER Should be used daily during allergy season
DRUG Allergy shots
OTC/RX Rx (at the allergist's office)
HELPS TREAT Congestion, runny nose, sneezing and itchy nose and eyes
HOW IT WORKS Tiny amounts of your allergen(s) are injected to build up your immunity.
CONSIDER Possible allergic response after receiving; can take one year to fully work
DRUG Sublingual therapy
OTC/RX Rx (not yet FDA-approved)
HELPS TREAT Entire allergic response
HOW IT WORKS Like allergy shots; doses are delivered via drops or tablets under the tongue.
CONSIDER Possible overreaction after taking; may not be as effective as shots
DRUG Acupuncture
OTC/RX Alternative therapy
HELPS TREAT Congestion, runny nose, sneezing and itchy nose and eyes
HOW IT WORKS Studies suggest it raises levels of potent anti-inflammatory chemicals.
CONSIDER It may take three to six sessions before you see results.


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Red Cross and Red Crescent meet States to strengthen humanitarian action
21-11-2011 News Release
Geneva (ICRC/IFRC) – Humanitarian challenges in contemporary armed conflicts and natural disasters will be among the themes discussed at the 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva next week.
The conference starting on 28 November brings together representatives of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – the world's largest humanitarian network – and of the States party to the Geneva Conventions. Over 2,000 people are expected to attend the event.
One of the objectives of the conference is to push for improved security so that health care can be delivered unimpeded in armed conflicts and other situations of violence. "People die in large numbers because armed conflict or other violence hinders their access to health care or because doctors, hospitals or ambulances are directly attacked," said Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). "Over the next four years, we will gather legal experts, health-care personnel, policy makers and representatives of armed forces to work out practical remedies to what has grown to be one of the largest yet least recognized humanitarian disasters of today."
Conference participants are expected to adopt a resolution that will endorse a four-year initiative to tackle this global emergency. A recent study by the ICRC of over 650 incidents in 16 countries and a follow-up report about the consequences for medical staff and patients are the basis of this initiative. The findings revealed that obstacles to providing and obtaining health care are widespread and affect millions of people around the world in countries such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia and Libya.
Another key objective of the conference is to strengthen the legal protection of victims of armed conflict. While the existing international humanitarian law remains suitable on the whole, improvement is still necessary in specific areas. In particular, there is a need for better protection for detainees in non-international armed conflict, and for more effective international mechanisms to monitor compliance with international humanitarian law.
Also under scrutiny during the International Conference will be the issue of the protection of volunteers in emergencies. Nearly one billion people around the world serve as volunteers. More than 13 million of these join the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, helping people with no expectation of financial gain. The nature of emergency response work means that many volunteers risk their safety and often their lives. In 2011, a number of Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers in countries such as Libya, Sudan and Pakistan sustained injuries or in some cases were killed while helping others.
In light of these and other tragedies, strengthening legal protection for volunteers and creating an environment which can better protect, promote and recognize the benefits of volunteers, will be a key objective of the conference. According to research by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) undertaken in line with the International Labour Organization's Manual on the Measurement of Volunteer Work, the services of volunteers around the world in emergency and development activities carried out by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement were worth close to six billion US dollars in 2009 – or close to 90 US cents for every person on earth.
"The decisions we make at the International Conference, the resolutions we create, the policies we adopt, only make sense once volunteers are in place to translate our words into concrete action," said Bekele Geleta, secretary-general of the IFRC. "Volunteers selflessly help others and at times fall in harm's way. It's time the welfare, recognition and protection of volunteers is seriously reviewed and measures put in place to ensure they can do their work without fear of intimidation or harm."
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is made up of the ICRC, the IFRC and 187 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The International Conference, its highest deliberative body, meets every four years.
For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:
Carla Haddad Mardini, Spokesperson, ICRC Tel: + 41 22 730 2405 / +41 79 217 3226
Nicole Engelbrecht, Public Relations Officer, ICRC Tel: + 41 22 730 2271 / +41 79 217 32 17
Pierre Kremer, Spokesman, IFRC Tel: +41 22 730 4914 / +41 79 226 4832
Jessica Sallabank, Media Relations Officer, IFRC Tel: 41 22 730 4620 / +41 79 948 1148
Jason Smith, Manager Corporate Communications, IFRC Tel: + 41 22 730 4454 / +41 79 249 3380
- You can find the complete agenda of sessions and events at: www.rcrcconference.org
- See also : 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent