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"That's the magic, love. That you really love your RIGHT NOW."
I said these words recently to a friend as she was talking about how happy she was even though her life is not going at all according to plan. I laughed out loud as I thought about plans and how well they normally work. If plans worked, I would be celebrating my eighteenth wedding anniversary with a houseful of children. Or I would be a curator at an esteemed museum and have several cats. Or, reaching further back, I would own a peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich shop on a beach.
Obviously plans don't work. Sometimes, not even plans for the weekend.
But here we are, and the magic is truly in loving the "right here, right now." No matter how far it is from the all important plan.
My "right here, right now" includes watching the Broncos, Brussels sprouts pizza, and this.
This was the furthest thing from what I had planned for the weekend, but here I am, right now. And I love my "right now." I will still keep planning, but I also know that life is good, no matter how the plans work out.
Peace and love and plans and pugs, cupcakes.
Texpatriate girl's view on life with monkeys, pugs, two wheels, nutella, and a dash of glitter. Sometimes funny, sometimes tragic, and often tragically funny. Most importantly, though, pictures of pugs and monkeys. You are welcome. XOXO
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Right Now.
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Life moves fast
I used to have reservoirs just a few steps from my wee cottage's front door. Full of bears, squirrels, deer, foxes, and a few animals I ...
I used to have reservoirs just a few steps from my wee cottage's front door. Full of bears, squirrels, deer, foxes, and a few animals I ...
I remember the water- murky lake water that smelled like summertime. I remember being blissfully happy, thinking that we were having fun. Th...


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Paralyzed Veterans of America [1] (PVA) is pleased to announce that the platform and poster abstract submission will open on December 8, 2017. The deadline for submissions is Thursday, March 8, 2018.
Session Options
We welcome abstracts for the following presentations:
- Keynote Address
- Plenary Session
- General Platform
- Poster
Topic Areas
Topics should address clinical treatment, research, health policy or program development in the areas of:
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Other Spinal Cord Dysfunction
Guidelines for Submission
All abstracts must be submitted electronically at pva.am.pesgce.com [2]
Please review the 2018 PVA Summit Guidelines [3] before submitting an abstract.
Submit Abstract Electronically [2]
Submisison Deadline
ALL Abstracts must be submitted by Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Questions/Contact Information
Please visit our website: http://summitpva.org/ [4] for more details.
For program-related questions, please contact: email@example.com [5]
For technical assistance, please contact: PESG technical support at email@example.com [6].

subset: commoncrawl


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[Editor's note: Bert Murib does not speak English and a translator, Suria Lukiman, was present throughout the interview. Some quotes have been amended to reflect they were Murib's own thoughts.]
It's quiet in the back room at the Shawnee Regional Airport.
Aside from sniffling, the occasional air motor and a phone ringing, it's quiet.
Bert Murib, a native of Papua, Indonesia, wipes away his tears as he explains why he traveled about 8,350 miles to Shawnee, Oklahoma.
His tears may have stopped, but his motivation to help his people have a constant flow of food, clothes, resources and independence will never end.
Murib's mission
Murib has been on a roller coaster journey trying to help his people stand on their own two feet. He said he was left with guiding words from his father, Chief Nokogi, to do so.
But Murib never met his father, he only knows him from a photo. When Murib's mother was pregnant with him, his father died. However, he left behind a will instructing Murib to help his people.
"I will do everything, I will give up my life for this responsibility," Murib said. "I live, I work, to serve my people."
To start this mission — one Murib feels is his mission from God — Murib began an air charter cargo company, since there's hardly any land transportation in Papua, the eastern province of Indonesia.
Murib attempted to lease a helicopter from Russia to bring resources to villages in the mountains. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to get the proper permit from the Indonesian government and the plan fell through.
But he didn't give up.
With the help of Darrin Lofton, president of Pacific Air Holdings, a company that leases aircrafts and that's based in Shawnee, Murib was able to start anew.
Meeting Darrin
Lofton met Murib on a business trip to Indonesia. A few companies expressed interest in leasing planes, so Lofton went to vet them.
"They're Indonesians, but they're not Papuan, they're not the native people," Lofton said. "Mr. Bert is a native Papuan and he's the first Papuan to own, to lease, an aircraft. We're excited about that."
As the two talked business, Lofton and Murib became close, learning about each other, their families and their history.
"It's usually business as usual in these transactions, but in this case, it's not. It's more than that," Lofton said. "We feel that it's an awesome opportunity at the same time doing business with someone."
In 2017, Murib and his company leased their first airplane from Pacific Air Holdings. Once they brought it back, the people hosted a huge celebration filled with prayer and dancing.
Now, Murib and Lofton are working on getting a second, and maybe third, aircraft to Indonesia to help take more resources into the mountains.
However, Murib knows flying resources to the villages isn't a sustainable, or realistic, way of life. Murib said he hopes to be able to train some of his people to work on planes.
"(That way I) can provide education training, skill training for those people, give them good training," Murib said. "(For) all Papuan people (to) become better men, that's my dream."
The second part of Murib's plan is to get his people education. He said that's one of the things Papuans lack.
"The first step is to make sure people eat healthy," Murib said. "After that, I really want to focus on education and make sure people become more independent. Turning them from famine, to livestock, to become more independent."
Changes in Papua
Leading up to World War II, Papua, not to be conflated with Papua New Guinea, was part of the Dutch East Indies. After the war, the Dutch wanted to hold onto Papua and argued it should be independent — the Indonesian government didn't agree.
After many conversations and documents through the early 1960s, the Dutch left Papua giving control to the United Nations.
According to John Saltford in "The United Nations and the Indonesian Takeover of West Papua, 1962-1969," since the Dutch left, "the Indonesian Government (had) done little or nothing until (1963) to develop the country or to give the Papuans any substantial economic development projects or any real degree of political participation."
The area was annexed by Indonesia and led to The Act of Free Choice — what some Papuans refer to as The Act of No Choice — where Papuans unanimously voted to integrate into Indonesia in 1969. After decades of authoritarian rule, the country transitioned to democracy in 1999. However, the area is still considered among Indonesia's poorest provinces, according to The New York Times.
The Times also reports the area has been subjected to a long list of human rights official abuses including "arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, official corruption" and more.
In the 1950s areas of Papua were mostly pagan. The Dani tribe that lived there didn't have much in the way of clothes or agriculture and were cannibals, Murib said.
When missionary Gordon Larson visited, though, and began to preach the Gospel, the people changed.
Chief Nokogi was one of the first baptized by Larson and encouraged his people to follow Christ.
"After that preacher came and baptized his father, the whole thing changed," said Suria Lukiman, who acted as translator for Murib. "They have morals and all those kinds of things."
This happened again in 1957 when Larson and fellow missionary Don Gibbons spoke with Chief Den and his Damal followers.
According to Operation World, more than 90 percent of Papuans are officially reckoned as Christian.
Although the Dani people are no longer cannibals, they still don't have a firm grasp on working the land — they also don't have much in the way of livestock, nor the knowledge on keeping livestock.
However, Murib said the Papuan people are pretty wealthy — they sit on the world's biggest gold mine as well as large amounts of copper, coal and other natural resources.
"Papua people are not poor at all, they're very rich," Murib said. "But they don't have the opportunity, they don't have the education, they don't have the training. That's why it's my mission to make sure they get well educated, well trained — so they can become independent just standing tall as everybody (else)."


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Global warming is in the news and national conversation these days. Some are fervent believers that it's virtually "The End," and should be the number one priority of the UN and the US. To them it's "Global Warming Warning." Others are climate change and warming deniers and feel we can ignore it altogether as a left-wing…Read more
My Favorite Newspapers-Part 1
I'm a reader. More than watching television or movies, it's reading for me. I can do it on my back on the couch in the living room. Perhaps that's the easy way out. I don't know. In terms of newspapers, one that I find indispensable is ... be ready for a surprise ... The Wall…Read more
The Long Road Promoting a Book
Well now, it's been a whole six weeks since Contact Sport, A Story of Champions, Airwaves, and a One-Day Race Around the World was released. There was a significant burst of activity worldwide from the super-prime core audience, namely radiosport enthusiasts, in spite of the fact that physical copies of the hard-cover book took over…Read more


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This year's projects
Thursday 18 May 2017
Enthused students!
I thought I would write this post about the topics my students have chosen for their IAs this year. I am busy re writing the IA section of the website (Big job) which will include some new resources about how to help students get solid, focussed ideas for their projects. I have been testing the resources out and am quite pleased with the results so far! Here is a run down of some of the ideas they have come up with.
No Apologies
I have read the examiners reports about Non Stats projects and understood them. I do offer and encourage students the opportunity to branch out and recognise how much potential there is. The fat remains though, that, from my experience, students find statsitcis comfortably the most relevantly applicable aspect of the course. They find that statistics offer them an opportunity to explore areas of interest to them and get enthused by the idea. We may like to say more variety and we may have seen a hundred projects about GDP and so on, but for our students it is the first time and they are having exactly the experience the program sets out to offer. So I make no apology that the ideas presented here are all stats based. the new resources will , however, try to offer more help and encouragement to students to explore different avenues so that students can see all the potential.
I am also determined to make sure that all ideas come from students themselves so that they are motivated to work on a topic that interests them.
Cyber attacks - What is the damaged caused, the danger associated. Who gets targetted and when? This promises to be really interesting and the data has all the potential it needs.
How effective is the TB vaccination - Never seen this one before. Comparing data about prevalanece of the vaccination and the disease along with other factors that might affect both of those.
Dr Who Episodes - Which ones are most popular and why? Some good data here could give the show producers some useful tips on the formula for success!
The Happy Planet Index - This is a really interesting organisation that I have been aware of for a while, but I have never seen the data that this student uncovered before and look forwrad to some of the outcomes.
Homework - although this is a stayed theme, this student looks determined to get some really rigours data on what is going on here. I for one am keen to see the results, because I think perception might be different from reality. This data collection is being well planned so that students in our school will log the time they spend over the period of a week. I have a feeling I might be taking this oroject to a staff meeting!
Flexibility - Nice! This will be a primary data collection exercise exploring how flexible we are and what the factors that cause that might be.
US Election results - Wow - some fascinating figures coming out of this one so far on the 2016 Presidential election. This is the kind of work journalists are doing everywhere (and often badly). it couldn't be more relevant.
University enrollment - What factors affect this in different parts of the world.
Cancer type prevalance - This promises to be fairly sobering reading so far. Personally I wonder what differences there are between reality and public perception on this topic.
Murder rate - I have seen this as a bsis before, but this one will focus on links with urbanisation which could be intriguing
The Rolling Stone top 100 songs - A music fan will be breaking these down to figure out what they have in common - or not as the case may be.
and seven more.....
I know it will be hard work and won't all go well, but I like this stage when students seem genuinely interested in the idea of a mathematical investigation.....
Work on the re write of the IA section continues.......


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The league clearly is targeting second-screen users and cord-cutters with its new Thursday night partnership with the popular social media site. Plus reader questions on Greg Hardy, roster expansion and Dr. Z
The news that the NFL is partnering with Twitter to live-stream 10 Thursday night games this season is important to the league for two reasons: 1) It's part of a continuing effort by the league to reel in young viewers who do not have cable or satellite TV; 2) And it's a way to increase the interest of fans who like to use social media while watching games; now those viewers will only need one screen—say, a laptop or a smartphone—to both watch the games and interact on Twitter.
It's important to you for one reason: If you like Twitter, you'll be able to watch a game and use Twitter to interact with informed people (and maybe some idiots too) on the same screen.
"The change of demographics with young people in this country was a big factor driving this decision," Brian Rolapp, the NFL's executive vice president of media, told me Tuesday after the partnership with Twitter for the 2016 season was announced. "How young people consume content—oftentimes digitally, on their terms—is becoming really important." He was referring to the so-called "cord-cutters," those people who choose not to pay for cable but rather experience TV in other ways, like via Apple TV or Roku.
• INSIDE GRUDEN'S QUARTERBACK CAMP: The MMQB goes behind the scenes as the ex-coach-turned-analyst puts Carson Wentz through the made-for-TV wringer both in the classroom and on the field
It's not only young people that the NFL targeted with this move. It's the way middle-aged and older fans consume the game too. Rolapp said seven of 10 fans who watch NFL games on television use another screen—laptop or tablet or smartphone—at some point while watching. This was the most interesting thing I thought Rolapp said: If you've got a laptop open and want to stream the game, you'll have the option of watching the game on the full screen, the way the NFL did last fall on the Jacksonville-Buffalo Yahoo Sports streaming experiment, or as part of a dual screen—watching the game on part of it, and using Twitter on the other part of the screen.
Rolapp said the NFL didn't take the highest bid from social-media companies that wanted to be the NFL's 2016 live-streaming partner. "What was more important than the highest economic bid to us," Rolapp said, "was the fan experience. So many of our fans use Twitter during games, and that was one of the things that was important to us."
Also Tuesday, Twitter CFO Anthony Noto told me consumers using a smartphone to watch the game on the smaller screen will have the option to click and open a stream of Tweets from commentators, other media people or their own friends to follow the game.
These 10 Thursday games will be able to be consumed on network TV (five are NBC-based games, five CBS), and on NFL Network, and now on Twitter. The NFL is calling the 10 games "tri-casts." As for whether CBS and NBC will stream games on their own sites: Although CBS has not exercised its ability to live-stream its games in the past, NBC has streamed Sunday night games recently, and has announced it will stream the Thursday night games as well. When that happens, the distribution for the games would add a fourth way to watch. Whatever, it's a new experience, the NFL's attempt to stay attuned to the way people experience football games today. [Editor's note: In the interest of full disclosure, Peter King's daughter, Laura, is an employee of Twitter.]
• MONDAY MORNING QB: Peter King on Kaepernick, Kelly and the player who could upend the 2016 draft
"We have 37 percent of our users who describe themselves as sports enthusiasts," Noto said. "This agreement is a natural extension of that. The NFL will be able to reach a bigger audience, a global audience, a mobile audience, with us."
Now for your email:
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After watching the bizarre Greg Hardy interview with Adam Schefter it was pretty obvious Greg Hardy is still oblivious. Do you see a team taking a chance on him given his past troubles and odd year with the Cowboys? No question he has the talent to play in the NFL, but I hope he never gets to put on a uniform again in this league.
—Chris, Stamford, Conn.
I watched snippets of the interview and thought to myself: If Hardy thought he was rehabbing his image in this interview, boy, was he wrong. I don't see how his path back to the NFL got less rocky by sitting down with Schefter and giving the basic non-denial denial.
I enjoyed the update on Dr. Z. As a youngster, I loved the occasion to pour over SI when it arrived at my grade school library to read Dr. Z's articles—something that carried over into adulthood. I think what I enjoyed best about his columns was the rich knowledge of the history of the game that he brought to his writing. Players I never saw came alive in the stories he retold. Have you ever considered adding a history feature to The MMQB? Between Dr. Z, and Steve and Ed Sabol, professional football has lost three of the game's most important storytellers. These men contributed greatly not only to understanding the game but also to defining the legacy of the National Football League. I can think of no more fitting tribute for Dr. Z than to have a weekly (or semi-regular) column devoted to the history of the NFL, whether its focus is on specific players, games, teams or personnel. It's an opportunity for The MMQB to inform a new generation of fans of the glorious past of the game, much like Dr. Z did for my generation in the 1970s and 1980s.
That is a terrific idea, John. It's one we'll explore this off-season. Thanks for the idea.
I've never met Dr. Z, but I have a favorite Dr. Z story about his writing. A few years ago a friend of mine was disgusted with his lifelong team (Washington). He and his family divorced them, and they went through a deliberate process to choose a new team. Among their criteria, they wanted to choose a team with a proud history, but they didn't want to join a bandwagon behind a current contender. I lent them my copy of "A Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Football," an old edition with the Browns on the cover. I tagged the chapter on Marion Motley. He and his daughters read the book and they adopted the Browns. I'm no longer welcome in their home.
—Steve S.
I will make sure Zim hears this story. I guarantee he will howl with laughter.
There is no chance Colin Kaepernick should give money back to play for another team. SF picked up his option solely to generate a draft pick in a trade and gambled that Kaepernick would essentially fund the draft pick for them. He owes SF nothing. The player always loses when it comes to NFL contracts. I'd collect the $12 million and wait for another year to see if SF picks up the next option. If SF passes, Kaepernick can choose his next location. Easy decision.
It's an interesting debate, but if you're Kaepernick, shouldn't you make the decision solely on what is best for your career at this moment? It's certainly the way I would think. You can be bitter and think the Niners did you wrong and, no matter what, you want out. Or you could think you would love to play on a team with two great wideouts and the benefit of a Super Bowl-championship defense. Easy for me to say, but if I were Kaepernick and had to choose between making $11.9 million for the Niners and, say, $7 million with the Broncos for this year with the clear understanding that down the road if I played well I'd get a quarterback-market deal in Denver … well, I'd make the decision between two very good options and not worry about losing money this year. If I had faith in my ability as a quarterback, the 2016 compensation part of it would be a factor in my decision but not THE major factor.
I found your segment on the long-term impact of football and cumulative head trauma to be an interesting read. It reminded me of an article I read last year in the Chicago Tribune that drew similar conclusions about a sport that is potentially as dangerous, with regard to cumulative head trauma, as football—that being soccer. I wonder if the NFL should be looking to partner with the other football as it conducts further studies, as they appear on the surface, to share problems and potentially similar solutions.
—Tim C., Arlington, Va.
Interesting point, Tim. The NFL has partnered with the military to compare notes on helmet technology, because there are similarities to head trauma in each profession. Soccer would be an interesting collaborator too.
• THE DRAFT'S X FACTORS: Moves for Paxton Lynch, Jalen Ramsey could shake up the early first round
Thought the quote you had from Chip Kelly about having to use key players on special teams was interesting, and it made me wonder how much special teams contribute to injuries. I'm wondering if a compromise solution to try and reduce injuries without radically changing the game is to do something like expanding the practice squad to 10-15 players and allowing them to dress on game days but only to play special teams. Basically, it would allow coaches to fill the majority of special teams with players who aren't starters or second-team guys, and reduce their injury exposure.
Really interesting proposal, Gus. I like it a lot. And I think this could be a compromise solution to the long-debated issue of increasing roster size and number of players dressing on game day. I do think owners, currently, will not want to increase rosters; the owners' view I'm sure is that there's not a drastic need for it. If, say, four really good players suffered career-ending injuries in a season while covering punts or kickoffs, maybe owners would see it differently. But when the 43rd player on a roster suffers a torn ACL and is lost for the year on special teams, owners simply view that as a cost of doing business. If you said to an owner, "You can dress five more players on game days, but only to play special teams," the first thing that owner would think of is that would cost him an extra $1.5 million or $2 million per year, and why do I want to do that? In other words, it might be good for the game and for the health of his roster, but it's an added cost without—in the owners' eyes—the game crying out for it.
While I agree the women deserve more money, I disagree that they deserve equal money. Here's why: Just look at the TV ratings. If you believe women deserve equal money, then do you believe women football players in a women's football league deserve the same amount of money as NFL players? I don't think so...
—Peter G.
I'll quibble with you here: The biggest women's World Cup game in 2015 was watched by 25.4 million fans in the U.S. The most-watched men's World Cup game in 2014 was watched by 18.2 million fans. You would argue, I'm sure, that if the U.S. men were ever in the World Cup final, the game would be watched by far more than 25.4 million people, and I'm sure you are right. But the women's argument is fairly simple: Comparing the peak games for men and women, more people watched the women. I am quite sympathetic to their argument.
• INSIDE THE RAMS' MOVE: The MMQB went behind the scenes to look at the logistical complexity of the Rams' nomadic season to come
During its long history of ignominy, the New Orleans Saints selected Russell Erxleben in the first round, No. 11 overall, of the 1979 draft, on the supposed reasoning that he would save them a roster spot because he would both kick and punt. So even if Roberto Aguayo is picked in the second round, he will not be selected as high as Erxleben.
—Gregory M.
There was another one, too; Charlie Gogolak went to Washington in Round 1 of 1966 draft. There have been interesting—shall we say—pieces of reasoning for picking kickers very high in drafts. I usually think of it this way: Jan Stenerud is the only pure placekicker in the Hall of Fame. I would think Adam Vinatieri has a good chance to make the Hall one day. Neither kicker was drafted. Now, that's not anything definitive, and I understand great kickers can be drafted too. But there's little correlation between where a kicker is drafted, or whether he is, and long-term NFL success.
A point I wanted to make related to Robert Mays' interesting discussion of Jared Goff and Tim Couch. I am a Steelers fan born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. So, I'm in the middle of the Browns' world. That list of Browns QBs since the team was re-established is well known here. But there's another way to look at it. Just look at the QBs that have started a game since 2004. Because that was the year that Cleveland took Kellen Winslow Jr. with the sixth overall pick. And the Steelers drafted Ben Roethlisberger at No. 11. THAT moment set the next decade-plus in motion for the two franchises. And that was straight up for the Steelers and straight down for the Browns. Well, they were already down. But had Cleveland taken Roethlisberger and gotten the stability he provided, their fortunes likely would have been a LOT better. And who knows if the Steelers would have been the perennial Super Bowl contender they've been with Ben if somebody else was under center? That draft absolutely set the paths for two NFL franchises in completely opposite directions. And the Browns have no one to blame but themselves.
—Bob B.
Good points. As usual in NFL annals, the winners on draft day translate to winners on the field.
You won't believe this, but my wife and I took our 10- and 14-year-old boys to Springsteen's show Sunday night in Oklahoma City. The ticket price? $6.00 via StubHub. We were in the upper deck of the venue where the Thunder plays, but looking straight on to the stage. We emphasized to the kids that it didn't really matter where we sat, they would at least be in the same room with the legendary Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. We bought the seats an hour before the show and didn't tell the boys what we were doing until we arrived. They were allowed to pick up something from the concessions—the older one wanted the tour shirt, the younger one wanted the Asbury Park sunglasses. As usual, Springsteen blew through three hours of a literally non-stop show. You know it was a landmark event when both boys voluntarily gave us a "thank you" for taking them as they crawled into bed just after midnight. They are still glowing this morning.
New converts to the tribe! I am so pleased.
• Question or comment? Email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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WWE United States Champion Jeff Hardy has pleaded guilty to driving while impaired after being caught three times over the limit.
The 40-year-old received a 120-day suspended sentence after admitting the charge over an incident in Concord, North Carolina on March 10.
Police said Hardy drove off the road to the right, striking around 105ft of guardrail, before his car spun out of control, at around 8.11pm.
The star's 2016 Cadillac CTS-V was said to have come to a rest in the middle of the right lane of traffic and he was arrested at 10.39pm.
The former WWE Champion, from Cameron, North Carolina, was charged with driving while impaired, then released at 11.24pm that night.
A breathalyser test recorded a blood alcohol level of .25 – three times the legal limit in the U.S – and he caused an estimated $5,000 in damages to the guardrail.
Appearing in court in Cabarrus County on Monday, Hardy was also fined $300 for court costs, told to hand over his license and to complete an assessment/treatment class.
In a statement released at the time of the incident, a WWE spokesman said: "Jeff Hardy is responsible for his own personal actions.
"We are investigating the matter and awaiting information from local law enforcement officials."
Hardy has previously had a number of run-ins with the law, including a 2009 arrest for possession of anabolic steroids and trafficking in controlled prescription pills, which saw him spend 10 days in jail in 2011.
He incurred two WWE Wellness Policy violations during his 2006 to 2009 run with the company and was part of an infamous on-camera incident in TNA Wrestling.
Hardy appeared to be intoxicated during a match against Sting in the main event of the Victory Road 2011 pay-per-view, which was won by Sting in less than a minute and a half.
However, the dad-of-two is believed to have a clean record under WWE's Wellness Programme since he and his brother Matt returned to the company in March last year.
He was drafted to the SmackDown LIVE brand two months ago, just one week after defeating Jinder Mahal for the US Championship.


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Halliburton Q4 Loss Widens on Tax Provision
The U.S. oilfield services major Halliburton has reported net loss in the fourth quarter 2017 of $825 million or 94 cents per share on charges related to U.S. tax reform and Venezuela receivables.
Halliburton recorded an aggregate $882 million of non-cash discrete tax charges in the fourth quarter of 2017, primarily as a result of preliminary tax provisions for the net impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 law.
In addition, Halliburton booked aggregate charge of $385 million during the fourth quarter due to delayed payments, combined with recent credit rating downgrades and deteriorating market conditions in Venezuela.
Adjusted income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $462 million, or 53 cents per diluted share.
For the fourth quarter 2017, Halliburton reported operating income of $379 million (adjusted $764 million). Operating income for 2017 was $1.4 billion, compared to operating loss of $6.8 billion in 2016.
Fourth-quarter revenue increased 9 per cent to $5.9 billion from $5.4 billion same time last year. Full year revenue for 2017 was $20.6 billion, an increase of $4.7 billion from 2016.
Sequentially, revenue increased by close to $500 million. Revenue in the full year of 2017 was $20.6 billion up from $15.9 billion in 2016.
The company booked net loss of $463 million ($0.53 per share), compared with net loss of $5.76 billion, ($6.67 per share) in the year 2016.
Subsea World News Staff


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How to Filter Excel Pivot Table Data
One cool thing you can do with Excel pivot tables is filtering. To filter sales by month, drag the Month PivotTable field to the Filters box. Excel re-cross-tabulates the PivotTable. To see sales of herbal teas by state for only a specific month — say, January — you would click the down-arrow button that looks like it's in cell B1.
When Excel displays a drop-down list box, select the month you want to see.
To remove an item from the pivot table, drag the item's button back to the PivotTable Field List or uncheck the checkbox that appears next to the item in the PivotTable Field List. Also, to use more than one row item, drag the first item that you want to use to the Rows box and then also drag the second item that you also want to use to Rows Here.
Drag the row items from the PivotTable Field List. Do the same for columns: Drag each column item that you want from the PivotTable Fields to the Columns box.
Sometimes having multiple row items and multiple column items makes sense. Sometimes it doesn't. But the beauty of a pivot table is that you can easily cross-tabulate and re-cross-tabulate your data simply by dragging those little item buttons.
Accordingly, try viewing your data from different frames of reference. Try viewing your data at different levels of granularity. Spend some time looking at the different cross-tabulations that the PivotTable command enables you to create. Through careful, thoughtful viewing of these cross-tabulations, you can most likely gain insights into your data.
You can remove and redisplay the PivotTable Field List in Excel 2013 by clicking the Field List button on the Analyze tab.
To remove and redisplay the PivotTable Field List in Excel 2007 or Excel 2010, right-click PivotTable and choose the Hide Field List command. To show a previously hidden field list, right-click the PivotTable again and this time choose the Show Field List command. Predictably, whether the PivotTable shortcut menu displays the Show Field List command or the Hide Field List command depends on whether the field list shows.


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DANIEL Ricciardo came home in seventh place at yesterday's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.
The Australian produced a fine display in his Enstone-based Renault car to secure his first points of the season having started the third race of the season from the same position as he finished.
There was frustration for teammate Nico Hulkenberg, however.
The German was forced to retire after 16 laps shortly after making a pit stop.
Both Haas cars, from Banbury, ended without points.
Romain Grosjean was agonisingly just one place outside in 11th, while Kevin Magnussed was a further two positions behind.
It was another tough race for the Grove-based Williams team.
George Russell, 16th, and Robert Kubica, one place behind, were the final two cars to finish.


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Monthly Archives: November 2011
Criticism of Sri Lanka Ignores Tiger Threat
BY:GREG SHERIDAN, FOREIGN EDITOR – The Australian
THE criticism of Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa, when he visited Australia for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, left the key Sri Lankan villain out of the story.
The criticism was that the Sri Lankan government engaged in serious human rights abuses, shelling areas where civilians were present, at the end of its civil war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, in May last year.
Both sides committed atrocities in this war, but the defeat of the Tamil Tigers was a decisive defeat of perhaps the bloodiest and most murderous terrorist group the world has seen.
Alexander Downer, Australia's foreign minister for 11 years of the war, tells me: "I know the Sri Lankan government played very hard ball and committed some human rights abuses, but it's a wonderful thing the Sri Lankan government won that war. I have always regarded the Tamil Tigers as absolutely a terrorist organisation."
It is easy to forget how bloody the Tamil Tigers were. In their 2 1/2-decade campaign, perhaps 70,000 people died. The Tamil Tigers pioneered the suicide bomber, conducting hundreds of such attacks and using a woman with a suicide vest to murder India's prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. They also murdered a Sri Lankan president. Rohan Gunaratna, an authority on terrorism based in Singapore, tells me the Tamil Tigers also pioneered suicide attacks at sea. The sinking of the USS Cole was an imitation of a Tiger operation.
The Tigers were authoritarian under the leadership of Vellupillai Prabakaran. They murdered Tamil and Sinhalese civilians, within the areas they controlled and within Sri Lanka generally. They used civilians as human shields, engaged in forced recruitment, routinely bombed civilian targets, used child soldiers and refused to let civilians leave the combat zone. They also engaged in sectarian attacks against Muslims.
They were connected with Islamist terror groups, having received early training from Palestinian extremists and became involved in the illicit arms trade.
They got funds from Tamil Tiger support networks across the world, especially Canada, the US, Britain and Australia. Downer says: "I have no doubt the Tamil Tigers raised a lot of money in Australia."
Gunaratna says: "After the conflict ended and the LTTE was decimated in Sri Lanka, they still had a presence overseas. They have been involved in bank fraud and people-smuggling to get their members overseas, especially to Canada and Australia.
"Australia should not permit anyone who is connected to any terrorist organisation to settle in Australia because that will affect Australia's security."
Gunaratna stresses, no doubt rightly, that the vast majority of Tamils are law-abiding people.
Since Labor changed border protection policy in 2008, more than 1400 Sri Lankans have arrived, unauthorised, by boat, though the rate has declined this year. There is no reason to assume any particular individual has a connection with the Tigers and each case must be judged on its merits. But membership of the Tamil Tigers is not just support for Tamil self-determination. By any measure, the Tamil Tigers were as deadly, unscrupulous, murderous and committed to terrorist attacks on innocent civilians as al-Qa'ida or the Taliban are.
In 2007, several Sydney and Melbourne men were arrested for providing funds to the Tamil Tigers. They were charged with terrorism offences but, because Canberra had not listed the Tigers as a terrorist organisation, the charges were downgraded to supplying funds to a UN-proscribed organisation. The courts heard evidence that more than $1 million had gone to the Tigers from Australia, and electronic components that were used in terrorist bombings had also come from here.
The men were convicted of the lesser charges and given suspended sentences. The prosecutions occurred as similar charges were laid against other men of Tamil background in several other Western nations. The Sri Lankan government in 2005 provided Western governments with intelligence and urged them to act to stop the flow of funds to the Tigers. These funds, though billed as humanitarian relief, were essential to the Tigers' ability to continue their terrorist campaign.
The inside story of the Howard government's failure to get the Tigers proscribed under Australian legislation has never been told. The Tigers were on a list of terrorist organisations proscribed by the UN. It was because of this that it remained a crime to supply funds to them. More than 30 countries explicitly banned the Tigers and listed them as a terrorist organisation under their own laws. Australia failed to do this.
This is not because the Howard government did not regard the Tigers as terrorists. But the inside bureaucratic story is complex and reflects poorly on Australia as an episode where ethnic politics impeded serious counter-terrorism.
Initially, the bureaucracy was hesitant about designating the Tigers as a terrorist organisation because it might lead to retaliation against Australians in Sri Lanka. It was important to upgrade security for the Australian High Commission in Colombo.
The attorney-general at the time, Philip Ruddock, declines to discuss the matter. However, sources tell Inquirer that Ruddock required the agreement of state governments to proscribe the Tigers. He wrote to state governments seeking that agreement. But within Australia the Tamils were a well-established lobby, with strong support from numerous non-government organisations and some human rights lobbies. The Sri Lankan community is politically divided: the Sinhalese vote Liberal, the Tamils vote Labor.
Sources tell Inquirer that at least one Labor state refused to agree to the Tigers being listed as a terrorist organisation. This was against Ruddock's assessment, the assessment of Australia's security agencies and the assessments and actions of the UN and dozens of foreign national governments, including friends and allies of Australia. Later, the court case itself inhibited proscription.
Gunaratna says: "Australia's response was not very decisive."
The Tamil war in Sri Lanka is over for the moment. Overwhelmingly, the priority for foreign governments should be to assist Sri Lanka in economic development, which is the dynamic most likely to aid reconciliation.
At the Perth demonstrations against Rajapaksa, some Tamil Tiger flags were displayed. It would be poor policy for Australia to allow the development of a Tamil Tiger network on its shores.
Filed under news watch
Freedom Speaks
A documentary about unspoken ground realities of Sri Lanka's war
A group of young filmmakers travels once forbidden area of their motherland. They meet their brethren who had been separated from them by 30 years of brutal terrorism. They exchange their mournful experiences about the war and discover a shocking truth behind the misery that ripped their lives apart. "Freedom speaks" is a documentary based on their experience.
"Freedom Speaks" is about the people who incredibly endured more than two decades of horror and hardships and emerged with hope and dignity. It speaks about the fears they have for their future knowing that the forces profited from their sufferings still striving to recreate what they hate most.
"Freedom Speaks" is for the ignorant world that unknowingly supported terrorism in Sri Lanka. It is against the malicious lies spread around the world about our country by vicious individuals and organizations wanting us back in war. It is to ease the agitated minds of all Sri Lankans watching this unholy campaign against them helplessly.
This documentary is done at the personal cost of the young filmmakers behind it for free distribution. If you wish to obtain a HD copy of the documentary please contact Isuru Wakkumbura on 01194 777 873 589 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Watch "Freedom Speaks" (Part 1)
"Freedom Speaks" (Part 2)
Filed under Uncategorized
From the pariah to the pinnacle – Sri Lanka turns tables at CHOGM | Asian Tribune
Filed under breaking news, news watch
The Nation: ABC Follows Ch-4 Into Gaffe-land
The latest round of international LTTE misinformation and derogation propaganda against President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Sri Lanka armed forces, a cooked up documentary on the ABC TV channel, Australia to coincide with the visit of the President to that country, has proved a hoax.
The truth behind the ABC Channel's recent documentary over alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka has been exposed. The documentary by the ABC was based on an alleged eyewitness Meena, who says that she witnessed the massacre of civilians and armed forces attacking hospitals with cannon fire. It has levelled war crime charges against the President, Permanent Representative for UN Dr. Palitha Kohona and the Lanka High Commissioner for Australia, Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe.
Meena was an LTTE cadre who is portrayed in the documentary as a civilian Australian national who had come to Sri Lanka during the war to learn Tamil which happens to be her mother tongue.
A number of defence personnel and political commentators are of the view that it was diabolically fabricated and designed as propaganda for the defeated LTTE terrorist outfit. Sri Lankan military has information to prove that she was a LTTE cadre who served in Castro's office and that she had undergone military training.
Defence Intelligence sources said they believed that the documentary had been produced aiming at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth, Western Australia, from October 28, which President Rajapaksa will attend.
Military sources have found all the details of the so-called eye witness proving Meena was not an innocent civilian but an identified LTTE cadre who actively worked for the terror outfit. At the final phase of the humanitarian operation by the Sri Lankan forces, she had managed to get shelter at an IDP camp in Vavuniya and later had left for Australia as she had connections there.
Political commentators have repeatedly pointed out that knowingly or unknowingly international NGOs as well as some well known media organizations are still supporting the
LTTE overseas rump's propaganda around the world. They also stressed that their ultimate effort is to badly tarnish Sri Lanka with such malicious propaganda.
It is opined that this is only another step of tarnishing the Sri Lanka government like ex LTTE cadre Ramesh's wife Vathsala Devi filing a case against the Deputy Permanent Representative of UN Major General Shavendra Silva and former LTTE activist Vani Kumar's false story on Channel 4 documentary which the Sri Lankan government debunked with another video named 'Lies Agreed Upon'.
According to military intelligence, the so-called eye witness's full name is Krishnamoorthy Navarangi Meena and Eelanadee is the code name given her by the LTTE terror outfit. She was born on October 30, 1982 at Velvettithurai, the hometown of Prabhakaran. She had received her education in Australia and has received citizenship also. She arrived in Sri Lanka in 2004 to conduct a research study.
During her visit, she had met LTTE's International Propaganda, Procurement and Fundraising Unit Head Castro and joined the outfit and had undergone military training for six months in an LTTE base in Muthaiyankaddu. She was attached to the LTTE's female infantry regiment Malithi and attached to the LTTE's International Division functioning under Castro as she was fluent in English. She married LTTE cadre Kuberan (Irasarathnam Thayakaran) in 2007. The LTTE had sent her to South Africa to follow a course on law and again to Malaysia for some LTTE work.
She was pregnant in 2008 and registered for the delivery in Ponnambalam Hospital in Wanni used only for providing treatment for LTTE cadres. She had given birth to a still-born. ABC has insinuated that this unfortunate eventuality was an outcome of shelling in the area. At that time there were no military operations in the area, a fact well-known to UN agencies, INGOs and others working in the area.
When the humanitarian operations by Sri Lankan forces concluded, she had concealed her LTTE identity and moved to an IDP Centre in Vavuniya and later had left to Australia. Her husband Kuberan, a wanted senior LTTE cadre, had surrendered to the Sri Lanka Armed Forces on May 16, 2009 but had managed to escape from a rehabilitation centre.
Analysts who have thoroughly examined her statement in the documentary ask why she does not name the hospitals or at least the area which she witnessed attacks by the Government forces. She also fails to mention where she saw the massacre of civilians by Sri Lankan forces. . She says that she worked in an orphanage but the place or name of the orphanage is not given. Although she claims her husband was a civil administrator, but he has an identified LTTE combatant who participated in the LTTE Peace Talks Delegation too.
Courtesy: The Nation
Filed under analysis, breaking news, news watch
Tamil Diaspora 'Public' Conference in Sydney held behind closed doors | Asian Tribune
Filed under breaking news
Sri Lanka should receive more accolade from the International Community – US Congressmen
U.S. Congressmen visiting Sri Lanka has said that Sri Lanka and its leader President Mahinda Rajapaksa who defeated the world's most ruthless terrorist organization should receive more accolade than it was given by the international community.
They have made these comments after a visit they made to the Jaffna peninsula yesterday, and when they met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday..
A three member delegation of U.S. Congressmen led by Congressman Albert Benjamin is on a three day fact finding mission to Sri Lanka. Mr. Benjamin has told the President that he made a visit to Sri Lanka two years ago, and since his last visit he finds that Sri Lanka has made vast stride in developments in the country which was indeed amazing. The Congressmen have told the President that they traveled to several places in Sri Lanka including Colombo, Kandy and the Northern Province and they were amazed to see the developments taking place in these areas and the people belonging to various communities living in harmony and happily.
The President at this meeting has requested the U.S. Congressmen to explain to the International community about the true facts of Sri Lanka. They have also told the President that they are fully satisfied about the security situation in Sri Lanka. The President has also explained to the Congressmen about the development projects being implemented in the war ravaged Northern and Eastern Provinces and future projects being planned for implementation in these areas.
The delegation which is visiting Sri Lanka under the United States and Sri Lankan Parliament representative exchange programme, includes Congressmen Albert Benjamin, Jack Kingston and Joseph Shuler.
Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L.Peiris, and President Secretary Mr. Lalith Weeratunge also attended this meeting.
– Asian Tribune –
Filed under news watch


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Wednesday, June 23, 2010
This is what's called a Badass Weekend.
I always enjoy this convention as just a little vacation not so far away, never really percieved it as a big deal compared to some of the larger cons I go to throughout the year. This time however, it was just an all-around AMAZING weekend. As with many cons, however, it was made to be kickass all thanks to the friends that attended. It's much easier to remember what was so cool about this con when I link it to the people who went, so instead of a 3-day report, I'm gonna give some big thanks to the friends I hung with this past weekend.
The MAGFest Crew (Anthony "Kroze" Krestky, Brandon Girkas, Brian Wilson & Dominic Cerquetti) - These guys worked REALLY hard this entire weekend. The Yu-Gi-Oh! Abridged booth they worked at in the Dealer's Room was fantastic looking and they sold out every single t-shirt they had. I roomed with most of these gentlemen for NEXT and they were a pleasure to be around. I helped them out as much as I could with selling stuff at the booth and it looks like it paid off, so keep it up guys!
Martin "LittleKuriboh" Billany - Martin I probably spent THE most time with during NEXT. Some of his close friends, like Alpha and Birde, also joined in and they were great to see. We did a whole bunch'a events together, including a panel for his YouTube smash-hit, two 4-hour long screenings of his videos...even some autographs! All of which, were PACKED. We also did a dramatic reading with a few other friends, plus I sold some of my drawings for the "Leather Pants" music video (Thanks, those who bought 'em!). Martin, you really kicked ass this weekend, thanks for everything!
Karl "Uncle Yo!" Kuster - This guy is HILARIOUS. We had the chance to hang with Karl at AnimeMilwaukee one night and he was incredibly entertaining to us all. At NEXT we really got to bond with him, laughing all the way thanks to his uplifting personality...and jokes about stabbing. Buy his comedy routines on disc, seriously. He also recorded a bunch of us after seeing Toy Story 3, which was the perfect way to end the weekend, then took the train back with me to NYC as we geeked out about various things. You're a riot, dude.
The BigBaldBroadcast Crew (Kyle Hebert & Marc Swint) - Always seen around cons, Kyle's also always a fun guy. Marc, his engineer for the Big Bald Broadcast, is also a hard-worker, a talented actor I work with, and a tremendous friend for constantly getting me out of technical hitches. Kyle invited me and Martin to be on his Big Bald Broadcast recording during one of the panels, which was really cool and we all geeked out about anything from childhood toy collections to favorite cons. Thanks for the opportunity guys!
Tony Oliver - I had met Tony briefly a few times at other conventions, but this time we really got talkin'. After he inadvertedly learned I made Go! Go! Parody Rangers during Kyle's panel, at first I was horrified, but was then overjoyed to hear he liked it! The Producer of the original Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers saw my stupid cartoon from 4 years ago and DIDN'T think it was a giant load of garbage. GASP. Near the end of the con, we traded a bunch'a stories and he told me lots of funny mishaps while working on the show and even the Ivan Ooze Movie. Tony's the bomb.
Dave Lister & Chris Malone - Two talented artists that I had also met briefly at other cons, but again got to really know them this year at NEXT. Dave, in the midst of taking care of his beautiful new baby daughter, threw a badass Pokemon party for one of the panels. I, plus a surprise Michelle Knotz (voice of Jessie and Piplup), were invited on and had a great time, watchin' the games occur, singin' songs and all that jazz. I didn't get to hang with them as long as I had hoped, but they were awesome nonetheless. Thanks guys!
There were plenty of others I was happy to see, including several fans of all the stuff I've been producing for the last several years. It meant a lot to meet people that just flat out enjoy the stuff I do and made the weekend even better than it already was! Hitting the ground running with more work on Parody Rangers, as I may be able to meet the July deadline I set for myself. Still more work to be done at EduWare, too, but nothing to showcase regarding those minigames just yet, as the programmings being handled as we speak. I've got even more conventions to look forward to now, so I'll be sure to buzz about 'em later. Off I go!
1 comment:
This is Allison; I loved getting to hang out with you and the rest of the guys. :3 You are all totally awesome, and made a weekend that should have been lonely and dismal for me, into the best con I've ever been to!ReplyDelete
If you hadn't guessed, I am a voice acting nerd as well, so it was funny to hear someone explaining to me who Justin Cook is. xD
Personally, you're kind of an inspiration to me. It's hard to say this without sounding stalkerish, but the whole fact that you got to do a professional role in an anime you like, and are now treated as a professional by people like Chris Sabat and Kyle Hebert is something that motivates me, as an aspiring actor, to pursue my own dream of becoming a professional voice over artist.
Right now, I'm actually working somewhere where I'm getting that sort of experience. While it's for community service and most of the job is sound editing, I am working hard; the people there come from the voice-over industry, so there's a good chance they could lead me in the direction of a job.
I didn't get a chance to tell you all that in person, but, yeah. I'm not jealous or anything of the "status" that gets attached to people like you and Martin, I know you're just regular guys, just the fact that your own hard work eventually paid off makes my career goals all the more palpable.
Sooooo....thanks. :D Hopefully this doesn't make you feel too awkward. ><;;


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5 Food Industry Trends Missed by Forecasters for 2015, Pt. 1/
By Suzy Badaracco, Foodable Industry Expert
When combing through the 210 Top 10 lists for 2015 offered up by trends forecasters, several gaps appeared. Forecasts for 2015 fell into distinct patterns with either the same predictions named again and again or general predictions offered, like "sustainable," which are utterly useless to consumers and the industry in the end.
To understand why food and flavor trends are born, or step into the spotlight for any given year, one must also understand their surrounding Couriers and influencers. A Courier acts to shuttle a trend in from a neighboring focus, while an influencer can be seen as an ally to a trend. Consumer, health, and technology trends impact and shift trends that are expressed in the food industry. They move as a dance — when one arena experiences a shift, the other areas will shift in response. Without understanding what is influencing a food, flavor or beverage trend, you have little hope of predicting where it will go next. And that is the difference between tracking trends and forecasting them.
With that said, overlooking key trends is akin to having a puzzle with missing pieces, which means the picture remains incomplete and can be misunderstood. Here are a few of the overlooked patterns to round things out a bit to help complete this year's puzzle.
The Unmentioned Top 5 Trends Affecting the Food Industry
- Consumer: "Clockless eating," which is helping to fuel the all-day breakfast, late night snacking, and small plate trends. Clockless eating manifests itself in various ways. Younger generations are among the no-rules clockless crowd, where meals and snacks are not tied to any particular foods or times. Older generations tend to be creatures of habit and prefer instead to stick with specific foods eaten at specific times.
- Technology: Hacker chic and DIY upgrades couldn't be hotter right now. It's the Wikipedia way for devices. Consumers want to tweak, personalize and upgrade devices so they better fit their lives and needs.
- Beverage: Tea cocktails have sidled up to the bar, getting cozy with whiskey, wine and rum. On that note, alcohol now competes with traditional seasonings as it shows up in marinades, desserts, sauces, and as a base for rubs. Tea has crossed into the seasoning arena as well.
- Foods & Flavors: Freekeh, grits, farro, oh my! These have ties to consumers' experimental mood and regional and global cuisine interests. Freekeh is coming in through middle Eastern and North African influences, grits from the Deep South, and farro from Italy.
- Foods & Flavors: Cuban and "Floribbean" foods are coming in following the relaxation of travel restrictions initiated by government. The race to discover Cuba's food secrets is on. Floribbean is closely tied to Cuban food and finds it influences from visitors and immigrants from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and others. Florida is acting as the gateway for both cuisines.


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Original article
Association between surgeon special interest and mortality after emergency laparotomy. BJS 2019; 106: 940-948.
Authors: H. Boyd‐Carson, B. Doleman, P. J. J. Herrod, I. D. Anderson, J. P. Williams, J. N. Lund et al.
Original article
Incidence and lifetime risk of hospitalization and surgery for diverticular disease. BJS 2019; 106: 930-939.
Authors: F. Sköldberg, J. Granlund, A. Discacciati, F. Hjern, P. T. Schmidt, O. Olén et al.
Serum carcinoembryonic antigen trends for diagnosing colorectal cancer recurrence in the FACS randomized clinical trial. BJS 2019; 106: 728-728.
Authors: B. Shinkins, J. N. Primrose, S. A. Pugh, B. D. Nicholson, R. Perera, T. James et al.
Bowel dysfunction after sigmoid resection for cancer and its impact on quality of life. BJS 2019; 106: 805-805.
Authors: H. Elfeki, H. M. Larsen, K. J. Emmertsen, P. Christensen, M. Youssef, W. Khafagy et al.
Systematic review
Authors: I. S. Reynolds, S. J. Furney, E. W. Kay, D. A. McNamara, J. H. M. Prehn, J. P. Burke et al.
Randomized clinical trial
Randomized clinical trial of liposomal bupivacaine transverse abdominis plane block versus intrathecal analgesia in colorectal surgery. BJS 2019; 106: 692-699.
Authors: D. T. Colibaseanu, O. Osagiede, A. Merchea, C. T. Ball, E. Bojaxhi, J. K. Panchamia et al.
Original article
Impact of enhanced recovery on oncological outcomes following minimally invasive surgery for rectal cancer. BJS 2019; 106: 922-929.
Authors: B. J. Quiram, J. Crippa, F. Grass, J. K. Lovely, K. T. Behm, D. T. Colibaseanu et al.
Original article
Multicentre study of non‐surgical management of diverticulitis with abscess formation. BJS 2019; 106: 458-466.
Authors: D. P. V. Lambrichts, H. E. Bolkenstein, D. C. H. E. van der Does, D. Dieleman, R. M. P. H. Crolla, J. W. T. Dekker et al.
Randomized clinical trial
Randomized clinical trial of selective decontamination of the digestive tract in elective colorectal cancer surgery (SELECT trial). BJS 2019; 106: 355-363.
Authors: G. S. A. Abis, H. B. A. C. Stockmann, H. J. Bonjer, N. van Veenendaal, M. L. M. van Doorn‐Schepens, A. E. Budding et al.
Original article
Population‐based study of surgical treatment with and without tumour resection in patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer. BJS 2019; 106: 790-798.
Authors: K. Westberg, G. Palmer, F. Hjern, T. Holm, A. Martling
Original article
Patient‐reported functional and quality‐of‐life outcomes after transanal total mesorectal excision. BJS 2019; 106: 364-366.
Authors: D. S. Keller, C. Reali, A. Spinelli, M. Penna, F. Di Candido, C. Cunningham et al.
Original article
Effect of care continuity on mortality of patients readmitted after colorectal surgery. BJS 2019; 106: 636-644.
Authors: C. F. Justiniano, Z. Xu, A. Z. Becerra, C. T. Aquina, C. I. Boodry, L. K. Temple et al.
Original article
Functional outcomes from a randomized trial of early closure of temporary ileostomy after rectal excision for cancer. BJS 2019; 106: 645-652.
Authors: C. Keane, J. Park, S. Öberg, A. Wedin, D. Bock, G. O'Grady et al.
Original article
Long‐term functional outcomes and quality of life in patients with Hirschsprung's disease. BJS 2019; 106: 499-507.
Authors: R. J. Meinds, A. F. W. van der Steeg, C. E. J. Sloots, M. J. Witvliet, I. de Blaauw, W. G. van Gemert et al.
Original article
Influence of the level of sacrectomy on survival in patients with locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer. BJS 2019; 106: 484-490.
Authors: Y. C. Lau, K. Jongerius, C. Wakeman, A. G. Heriot, M. J. Solomon, P. M. Sagar et al.
Original article
Cost‐effectiveness analysis of a multicentre randomized clinical trial comparing surgery with conservative management for recurrent and ongoing diverticulitis (DIRECT trial). BJS 2019; 106: 448-457.
Authors: H. E. Bolkenstein, G. A. de Wit, E. C. J. Consten, B. J. M. Van de Wall, I. A. M. J. Broeders, W. A. Draaisma et al.
Notes: Maintained benefits
Original article
Sex differences in faecal occult blood test screening for colorectal cancer. BJS 2019; 106: 436-447.
Authors: L. Koskenvuo, N. Malila, J. Pitkäniemi, J. Miettinen, S. Heikkinen, V. Sallinen et al.
Notes: Only of benefit in men
Original article
Diffusion‐weighted MRI assessment of the peritoneal cancer index before cytoreductive surgery. BJS 2019; 106: 491-498.
Authors: I. van 't Sant, W. J. van Eden, M. P. Engbersen, N. F. M. Kok, K. Woensdregt, D. M. J. Lambregts et al.
Notes: Promising staging tool


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Grant Opportunity for Latinx Artists!
We recently came across this wonderful grant opportunity with the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC). If you are a Latinx artist, ensemble or organization, consider applying for a grant with NALAC!
There are a few info webinars coming up in August and the deadline to apply to the grant is September 6th, 2018.
Let us know if you would like us to review your application before submitting!


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Designing the Curriculum Conference 2019, Manchester
- Manchester
- 19 November 2019
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September 2019 is fast approaching – and with it, the introduction of Ofsted's New Framework. We now know that they will be moving their focus from data to teaching and the quality of your curriculum.
Ofsted will expect you to communicate curriculum intent, plan a strategy for successful implementation and improve long-term impact. We know that designing and implementing a broad and balanced curriculum that builds on prior learning, deepens knowledge and enhances skills is not an easy job.
With that in mind, we invited top specialists to share their expertise at the Designing the Curriculum Conference 2019.
This conference builds on the research and the latest information from Ofsted and will provide you with greater clarification and guidance on what the new education inspection framework will mean in practice. You will also learn how the planned changes will affect the way Ofsted inspects schools on the curriculum.
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Learning Objectives
- The new Ofsted inspection framework and its impact on the curriculum
- Quality of the curriculum – intent
- Curriculum implementation
- Measuring and improving your curriculum's impact
- Ofsted inspection of curriculum: what school leaders need to know
- 9.00 – 9.25
- Registration and refreshments
- 9.25 – 9.30
Chairperson's introduction
- Martin Robinson
- 9.30 – 10.30
An overview: the new Ofsted inspection framework and its impact on the curriculum
- Vikki Pendry
- The case for change: understanding the reasons behind the new inspection framework
- Assessing the key judgements proposed by Ofsted
- The importance of curriculum and quality of education
- Putting the curriculum at the heart of inspection – what this might mean in practice
- Curriculum quality factors and expectations from providers
- 10.30 - 11.30
Planning your curriculum: intent
- Alex Atherton
- Reviewing your curriculum provision
- Demonstrating clear purpose and design: articulating and evidencing curriculum intent
- What are the national, basic, local and hidden curriculums?
- Personal development: how the curriculum supports broader development and character
- 11.30 - 12.00
- Refreshment break and networking
- 12.00 - 13.00
Implementing your curriculum
- Alex Atherton
- Structuring your curriculum
- Supporting and developing subject expertise and effective teaching
- Improving the effectiveness of marking and feedback
- Teaching for long-term learning: the relationship between knowledge and skills
- Developing inclusive and engaging programs for narrowing the gap
- 13.00 - 14.00
- Lunch break and networking
- 14.00 - 15.00
Measuring and improving impact
- Matt Bromley
- Reviewing your curriculum regularly: putting in place a model for progression
- Preparing pupils for their next stage of education, employment or training
- The continuing role of assessment to measure effectiveness: designing your assessment practice
- Supporting staff workload and well-being
- 15.00 - 15.15
- Refreshment break and networking
- 15.15 - 16.15
Ofsted's future inspection of the curriculum: what school leaders need to know
- Martin Robinson
- What will inspectors be looking for under the new framework?
- What should you expect and how can you prepare?
- Demonstrating expected outcomes around intent, implementation and impact
- Linking CPD to school improvement
- 16.15
- End of conference
Alex Atherton
Martin Robinson
Matt Bromley
Vikki Pendry
For partnership opportunities, please contact Jose Sebastiao on 0208 076 2322 or email firstname.lastname@example.com
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- Free copy of SEN Leader magazine
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- Lifetime Online Portal Access with additional materials
- Reserved seat of your choice
£299.99 + VATBook Standard
Premium Ticket
- Early Bird Rate when available
- Certificate of completion
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I love traveling abroad. From the rush of the unknown to the exhilaration of new sights and sounds, I come alive in foreign places. Over the years, I've learned the best part about traveling abroad is the lack of connection. Wifi is generously available, but you still spend a lot of time offline, in-transit and walking around. I love the experience of being present without technological distractions.
Messages from Lizards and Giraffes
Like many young Americans, I am persistently passionate about a handful vaguely related pursuits. For the last few years, yoga has always been my mainstay; but, I've weaved quite a few things in along the way. Up until now, I have not wholeheartedly ran after my destiny. I always keep one-foot in the safe-zone. I have gotten good at warping jobs into kind of looking like I was pursuing my destiny, but in my heart-of-hearts, I knew it was not my dharma; therefore, something I should not pursue. This week is my first week of doing entirely what I want to do (and it's incredibly gratifying and equally terrifying).
365 Days in Southern Cali
To summarize, the last 365 of my life were similar to a modern painting. It was confusing and messy and unconventional, but super beautiful and inspiring. It lit my soul on fire and I now have more strength and determination to live my mantra and fulfill my destiny! I am eager to share the experiences that emerge in the next 365 days and the wonderful things that come from my grit and tenacity.


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Medium editorial explains why Silicon Valley VC invested in Swift
Why did Data Collective in Palo Alto, Calif., invest in Swift Medical Inc., leading a funding round that ultimately raised $11.6 million? Two words: computational care. Scott Barclay, partner at Data Collective, explains in a Medium editorial. Read Machine vision and empathy at the bedside: Why we invested in Swift Medical.


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Monday, at the first White House press briefing of the new year in answering a question about the controversy over Rep. Steve Scalise's (R-LA) speech to a white supremacist group 12 years ago, press secretary Josh Earnest said though the president believes it is "ultimately their decision to make," it puts into question the "values" of Republicans if they choose "David Duke without the baggage" [Scalise] as part of their caucus' leadership.
"Who they choose to serve in their leadership says a lot about who they are, what their values are," Earnest said. "Mr. Scalise reportedly described himself as David Duke without the baggage, so it will be up to Republicans to decide what that says about their conference."
Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN


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HU men score early and often in big win over Goshen
Wednesday, February 6, 2019 8:07 AM
The Huntington University men's basketball team scored early and often on the way to a 75-51 win over visiting Goshen College on Tuesday, Feb. 5.
The Foresters, 16-11 overall and 6-9 in the Crossroads League, built a double-digit lead six minutes into the game and never looked back, leading 44-26 by halftime.
Sophomore Zac Owens and freshman Caleb Middlesworth each scored 18 points to lead HU, and senior Tyler Arens contributed 15.
Middlesworth scored 14 points and Arens had 10 in the first half onslaught.
Owens had four assists and Konner Platt had three for the evening.
Arens and James Gardner led HU to a 41-32 rebounding advantage with matching totals of eight boards.
Alhassan Barrie led Goshen, 7-20 overall and 1-14 in the CL, with 19 points. Austin Branagan added 14.
HU hit 24 of 54 shots from the field for 44.4 percent and added 21 of 25 from the free-throw line for 84 percent. The Maple Leafs hit just 18 of 57 shots from the field for 31.6 percent and added 12 of 16 from the stripe for 75 percent.
Middlesworth added three blocked shots to his stat line.


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I've posted a few times about how I love, love, love the 90's, so I was definitely excited about a collaboration between Gwen Stefani and OPI!
The full Gwen Stefani x OPI nail collection is pretty, but I was a little disappointed by how generic and dupeable some of the shades were. Fortunately, there were still a few unique shades in the collection. I was especially excited about the two matte satin shades. I was planning to buy both, plus the holo glitter topcoat, but I'm still on a LOW BUY (obviously the NO BUY didn't fully take). I ended up only getting the black shade, OPI Gwen Stefani Nail Lacquer Collection ($9) in 4 in the Morning. Hey, that shows some restraint, right?
I just love the unique finish on this one. Now that black nail polish has gone mainstream, this unusual smooth, satiny matte texture gives black its edge back. It reminds me of black leather.
I was even inspired to do some Gwen-esque makeup for the occasion! Of course I look nothing like her (wouldn't that be nice?), but her classic look is always fun to do.


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If there was ever a time to be happy you're a South African, it's September. Between 14 and 18 September, South Africans will have free access to almost all of the SANParks National Parks in celebration of SA National Parks Week.
The reasoning behind it is simple: to encourage South Africans to visit their local national parks and appreciate the natural surroundings that are much closer than we sometimes think.
The only parks not included in the free entry are the Boulders Penguin Colony in Table Mountain National Park and the Namaqua National Park. The Mountain Zebra National Park and Karoo National Park are also extending free entry to the first 100 people per day who arrive on 19 and 20 September 2015.
All you need to take with you is your South African ID document. And seeing as spring has arrived, there really is no excuse not to make the outing. So convince your colleagues that a sunny afternoon picnic also counts as 'team building' and make your way to your nearest national park.
Visit the SANParks website for the full list of participating parks.
Cape Point Route loves Table Mountain National Park (& penguins)
Cape Point Route also offers day tours, packages, accommodation, activities and car hire in Cape Town's south peninsula in addition to teambuilding events in Cape Town. Call 021 789 0093 or visit www.capepointroute.co.za
Like us or follow us for the latest news, events and happenings in the south peninsula of Cape Town or join our mailing list to receive our news and information.


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Staff of the Customs & Excise Department will be off the job on Thursday. However, it is not because of any industrial action.
Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) Roslyn Smith revealed today that staff have been summoned to a general meeting at 10 a.m. at union headquarters, Dalkeith Road, St Michael to be updated on the latest round of talks with Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler on the planned transfer of Customs to the umbrella Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA).
Smith said information the union had been demanding regarding the new terms and conditions of employment under the BRA was closer to being disseminated.
She said the meeting would also strategize on the way forward.
Meantime, Sinckler today indicated that the planned transition of Customs into BRA, which was due to be completed by July 1 after it was initially pushed back from April 1, was unlikely to take place before the end of the Crop Over season, which ends in early August.
He explained that "from the meetings we have had both with the NUPW and the Barbados Workers Union I think that most, about 90 to 95 per cent of all of the major issues have been discussed and in my view, fully canvassed".
However, the Minister of Finance revealed that "there are one or two technical issues that remain and at least one of which attaches some legal consequences so that has to be resolved to ask for an opinion from the Solicitor General's office on that matter and that is pertaining to the Public Service Act."
While dismissing rumours of a September 1, 2015 deadline, he said: "As you know we have the Crop Over season and that is a fairly busy period for Customs. It is the summer period and therefore if we don't go before then it would not make operational sense to try to do the transition in the middle of Crop Over. So those are the kinds of considerations we are making before we ask Cabinet to express its favour on any particular date," he said.
Sinckler however gave the assurance that Customs, once merged with the BRA, "will operate as normal".
"The only thing that changes in relation to how that operation runs is that what we now call the Comptroller of Customs will be the Revenue Commissioner. They [BRA workers] report ultimately to the Revenue Commissioner, but all of the management structures in terms of the chain of command of customs remain as is," said Sinckler, adding that "the title of the officers might change".
There are currently approximately 300 employees in the Customs division. The BRA proposed that about 280 of them would make the transition.
Sinckler said the others would be absorbed "in the general public service" in a post "at a similar level" to the one they currently hold.


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Arcs Circles +
Plugin downloaded 6931 times.
Sections: Geometry - Drawing
Adds 13 commands to the "Draw" menu, to draw arcs, circles, polygons and ellipse, entering points, radius, length, angle, tangent, accuracy (number of segments).
How to install: Special, see Documentation.
UI Location: Draw
SketchUp version: 7
Added to the site on 17 July 2013
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Cybersecurity 2018: Looking Back, Looking Ahead, or Just Looking Around?
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Cybersecurity 2018: Looking Back, Looking Ahead, or Just Looking Around? by Tony Sager
VirusTotal Enterprise by Evan Derheim
As we approach year's end, we start to see the usual round of annual summaries and reports. Many of these are excellent, but what are they telling us? Are things getting better? Are we making progress? Cyberdefense has only gotten more complicated, more mainstreamed in our social lives, and more confusing. This might be great job security for some of us, but not so great for public policy, security improvement, consumer confidence, etc.
In this talk, we'll look at 2018 and identify highlights across a broad spectrum of issues: the trends in attack tradecraft and targets; the evolution of defensive tools and controls, and the big defensive ideas on the horizon; and the increasing role that cybersecurity is playing in business, boardrooms, and in public policy.
We'll talk about the changes in behavior of the cybersecurity community, and how that will affect our ability to scale up defenses across the entire ecosystem.
We'll point out the key trends and try to sort out hype from progress. We'll also take a quick look at some things to expect in 2019, some problems and shifts that might reshape the environment.
Guest Presenter:
Tony Sager
Tony Sager, Senior VP and Chief Evangelist for the Center for Internet Security, leads the development of the CIS Critical Security Controls, a worldwide consensus project to find and support technical best practices in cybersecurity. As of December 21, 2015, more than 13,000 individuals and organizations have downloaded the CIS' Critical Security Controls for Effective Cyber Defense Version 6.0 since their release to the public in 2015. Tony also serves as the Director of the SANS Innovation Center, a subsidiary of The SANS Institute.
Sponsor Presenter:
Evan Derheim
Evan is a Customer Experience Engineer for VirusTotal. Before coming to VirusTotal, he worked at both NASA's security operation center and NASA's supercomputing facility. An entrepreneur at heart, he has started two technology-centric businesses. He earned his BS studying information systems at San Jose State University. When he's not dabbling with new business ideas, he enjoys watching Bay Area sports teams and working out.


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Low-resonance circuit boards and anti-vibration, resonance controlling feet minimise the effect of microphonic vibration on the highly sensitive electronic components.
Carefully matched precision rotary potentiometers with precious metal wipers are used to preserve musical integrity and ensure long-term stability. The intelligent balance control combines a high quality motorised potentiometer for the best performance with intelligent circuitry to indicate the centre position.
The NAC 202 features a silent microprocessor that sleeps during listening and controls all aspects of the amplifier including: protection circuits that continuously monitor the power supplies ensuring safe shut down in the event of a power cut; user-configurable 'Smart IR' remote control for simple easy and control of the Naim system.
The NAC 202 introduced a new level of technical and musical performance, along with elegant new styling.


text: Gender, Music, and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission ComponentsTorre, Peter III; Grace, Jennifer; Hansen, Christina; Millman, Paige; Martin, HannahEar and Hearing: November/December 2013 - Volume 34 - Issue 6 - p e74–e81 doi: 10.1097/AUD.0b013e31829176ac Resource Review Buy Abstract In Brief Author InformationAuthors Article MetricsMetrics Objectives: The prevalence of personal music (PM) system use with earphones is high among young adults. Although previous research has demonstrated that the majority of these adults may not be listening at levels or for durations considered dangerous, the long-term consequences of PM system use are not fully understood. In this report the relationship between self-reported PM use (i.e., non, light, moderate, or heavy) and peripheral auditory function as assayed through distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) components and fine structure was explored. The purpose was to evaluate the relationship between PM system use and peripheral auditory function. Design: One hundred and one (N = 101) young adults, 18 to 30 years of age, with normal hearing. Survey data were first obtained to determine PM system user status along with type of earphones used, most common listening volume, and most common listening duration. Once normal-hearing sensitivity was confirmed with a hearing screening, the DPOAE research protocol was administered. DPOAEs (2f1 to f2) were measured between 1 and 6 kHz with stimulus levels fixed at L1, L2 = 55,40 dB SPL and f2/f1 = 1.22. DPOAE level as well as fine-structure depth and spacing in 1/3rd octave (oct) bands around 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, and 6 kHz were compared across various PM system user groups. The ear-canal DPOAE was separated into the so-called generator and characteristic frequency (CF) components. The characteristics of the components were also compared across user groups. Results: Almost all participants reported listening to a PM system between < 1 hr/d to 3 hr/d, and 67% of the participants reported medium/comfortable as the most common volume used during a typical day. There was no significant effect of user status on 3rd oct DPOAE data, 1/3rd oct band component data, or fine-structure spacing data. Women exhibited significantly higher DPOAE as well as generator and CF component levels in the lower half of the frequency range evaluated. There were no significant gender differences for fine-structure spacing or depth. The slope of the CF component was significantly steeper in women. Conclusions: In this cross-sectional study, there were no significant effects of self-reported PM use on either the ear-canal DPOAE or its constituent parts. Fine-structure depth varied across user groups in a nonsystematic manner. Women exhibited higher DPOAE and component levels in the lower portion of the frequency range evaluated. It is interesting to note that a greater proportion of men reported listening to their PM system at loud or very loud levels. The size of the effect relative to the sample size of each user group may be masking the deleterious effects of PM system use on the peripheral auditory system. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between personal music system use and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) components and fine structure. DPOAE data were collected in 101 young adults with normal hearing. There were no significant effects of self-reported personal music system use on any DPOAE components or fine-structure variables. Females, however, had significantly higher lower-frequency DPOAE and component levels compared with males. School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA. The authors thank the Capita Foundation for funding components of this project. The authors also truly appreciate the effort put forth by Sumitrajit Dhar and Salvador Aguinaga for programming and software development of this study. The authors thank all of the students who participated in this study who had to listen to music they may not normally listen to. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Address for correspondence: Peter Torre III, School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences 244 San Diego, CA 92182, USA. E-mail: email@example.com © 2013 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins


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100 Years of Swiss Graphic Design showcases the diversity of contemporary visual culture as well as revealing the fine lines of tradition that extend between works from different epochs. The show reveals that, while it is impossible to identify a single individual style in Swiss graphic design, a certain common approach is certainly to be found. The striking quality of the works, the way in which they are securely rooted in handcraft, as well as precision and reduction to essentials are the characteristics of this approach. Graphic works from Switzerland reflect international tendencies as well as local characteristics. They are accompanied by irony and wit.
This exhibition is a colorful cross-section through one hundred years of visual everyday culture. The chronological link is formed by a continuous frieze made up of 100 posters from the period between 1912 and 2012. The poster has been able to retain its relevance as a medium over this entire period, so that the range extends from classic masters of poster art to designers from the younger generation. The show reveals that, despite changes in needs, aspirations and techniques over the course of time, graphic design always circles around similar themes: the field of tension between art and graphic design is manifested, the dialogue between graphic design and photography…
February 10 – June 3, 2012
Museum für Gestaltung, Zürich
Museum für Gestaltung, Zürich
via manystuff