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The Power of the Mind
Bruce Lipton, Ph.D., New Dawn
Waking Times
Living in the world under your skin is a bustling metropolis of 50 trillion cells, each of which is biologically and functionally equivalent to a miniature human. Current popular opinion holds that the fate and behaviour of our internal cellular citizens are preprogrammed in their genes. Since Watson and Crick's discovery of the genetic code, the public has been programmed with the perception that DNA acquired from our parents at the moment of conception determines our traits and characters. This conventional view of genetics further has us believe that our inherited gene programs are apparently fixed, the equivalent of a computer's "read-only" program.
The notion that our fate is indelibly inscribed in our genes was directly derived from the now dated scientific concept known as genetic determinism. It is still a conventional belief that genes "control" the many wonderful attributes passed down through a family's lineage, as well as dysfunctional familial traits such as cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes and depression, among scores of others. As "victims" of heredity, genetic forces outside of our control, we naturally perceive of ourselves as being powerless in regard to the unfolding of our lives. Unfortunately, the assumption of being powerless is the road to personal irresponsibility. "Since I can't do anything about it anyway… why should I care?"
Shattering Illusions
Just as the Human Genome Project got off the ground in the late 1980's, scientists began to acquire a paradigm-shattering new view of how life works. Their revolutionary research has become the foundation for a new branch of science known as epigenetic control. The world of epigenetics has shaken the foundations of biology and medicine for it reveals that we are not "victims" of our genes, but are in fact "masters" of our genes.
The conventional version of heredity still being taught in schools emphasises genetic control, which literally reads as "control by genes." However, newly revealed epigenetic control mechanisms provide a profoundly different view of how life is managed. The Greek-derived prefix epi- means "over or above." Consequently, the literal translation of epigenetic control reads as "control above the genes." Genes do NOT control life – life is controlled by something above the genes. Knowledge is power and this knowledge of how life works provides the most important element in our quest for self-empowerment. Epigenetics leads us from our perception of victim to our proper role as a participatory creator.
The new science of epigenetics recognises that environmental signals are the primary regulators of gene activity. As described in the Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter and Miracles, cells read and respond to the conditions of their environment using membrane protein perception switches. Activated switches send signals into the cytoplasm to control behaviour and regulate the activity of the genes, the hereditary blueprints used to make the body. Proteins are the cell's molecular building blocks and their characters provide for our physical and behavioural traits.
Amazingly, epigenetic information can modify or edit the readout of a gene blueprint to create over 30,000 different variations of proteins from the same gene. This editing process can provide for normal functional protein products as well as dysfunctional proteins from the same gene. One can be born with healthy genes and through epigenetic processes express mutant behaviours such as cancer. Similarly, one can be born with defective mutant genes and through epigenetic mechanisms create normal healthy proteins and functions.
The conventional belief that the genome represents "read-only" programs is now proven to be false. Epigenetic mechanisms modify the readout of genetic code, therefore genes actually represent "read-write" programs wherein life experiences actively redefine an individual's genetic expression. As organisms experience the environment, their perception mechanisms fine-tune genetic expression so as to enhance their opportunities for survival. The environment's influence over the genome is dramatically revealed in studies on identical twins. When first born, these siblings express almost the same gene activity from their identical genomes. However, as they begin to experience life, their personal individualised experiences and perceptions lead to the activation of profoundly different sets of genes.
The "new" biology is based upon the fact that perception controls behaviour AND gene activity! This revised version of science emphasises the reality that we actively control our genetic expression moment by moment throughout our lives. Rather than seeing ourselves as victims of our genes, we must come to own the responsibility that our perceptions are dynamically shaping our biology and behaviour. The expression of a healthy or dis-eased biology is directly influenced by the accuracy of an individual's interpretation or perception of their environment. Misperceptions rewrite genetic expression just as effectively as accurate perceptions, yet with far graver, perhaps even life threatening consequences.
From the Microcosm of the Cell to the Macrocosm of the Mind
For the first three and a half billion years of life on this planet, the biosphere consisted of a massive population of individual single-celled organisms, such as bacteria, yeast, algae, and protozoa like the familiar amoeba and paramecium. About 700 million years ago, individual cells started to assemble into multicellular colonies. The collective awareness afforded in a community of cells was far greater than an individual cell's awareness. Since awareness is a primary factor in organismal survival, the communal experience offered its citizens a far greater opportunity to stay alive and reproduce.
The first cellular communities, like the earliest human communities, were basic hunter-gatherer clans wherein each member of the society offered the same services to support the survival of the community. However, as the population densities of both cellular and human communities reached greater numbers, it was no longer efficient or effective for all individuals to do the same job. In both types of communities, evolution led to individuals taking on specialised functions. For example, in human communities some members focused upon hunting, others upon domestic chores and some upon child rearing. In cellular communities specialisation meant that some cells began to differentiate as digestive cells, others as heart cells, and still others as muscle cells.
Most of the trillions of cells forming bodies such as ours have no direct perception of the external environment. Liver cells "see" what's going on in the liver, but don't directly know what's going on in the world outside of the skin. The function of the brain and nervous system is to interpret environmental stimuli and send out signals to the cells that integrate and regulate the life-sustaining functions of the body's organ systems.
The successful nature of multicellular communities allowed evolving brains to dedicate vast numbers of cells for use in the cataloguing, memorising and integrating complex perceptions. The ability to remember and select among the millions of experienced perceptions in life provides the brain with a powerful creative database from which it can create complex behavioural repertoires. When put into play, these behavioural programs endow the organism with the characteristic trait of consciousness. In this presentation, the term consciousness is used in its most fundamental context… the state of being awake and aware of what is going on around you.
Many scientists prefer to think of consciousness in terms of a digital quality, an organism either has it or not. However, an assessment of the evolution of biological properties suggests consciousness, like any other quality, evolved over time. Consequently, the character of consciousness would likely express itself as a gradient of awareness from its simpler roots in primitive organisms to the unique character of self-consciousness manifest in humans and other higher vertebrates.
The expression of self-consciousness is specifically associated with a small evolutionary adaptation in the brain known as the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is the neurological platform that enables us to realise our personal identity and experience the quality of "thinking." Monkeys and lower organisms do not express self-consciousness. When looking into a mirror, monkeys will never recognise that they are looking at them selves; they will always perceive the image to be that of another monkey. In contrast, neurologically more advanced chimps looking in the mirror perceive the mirror's reflection as an image of themselves.
An important difference between the brain's consciousness and the prefrontal cortex's self-consciousness is that consciousness enables an organism to assess and respond to the immediate conditions of its environment that are relevant at that moment. In contrast, self-consciousness enables the individual to factor in the consequences of their actions in regard to not only how they impact the present moment but also as to how they will influence the individual's future.
Self-consciousness is an evolutionary adjunct to consciousness in that it provided another behaviour-creating platform that included the role of a "self" in the decision-making process. While conventionalconsciousness enables organisms to be participatory members in the dynamics of life's "play," the quality of self-consciousness offers an opportunity to simultaneously be an observer in the "audience." From the perspective of our being able to observe the role of "self" in the unfolding of the "play," self-consciousness provides the individual with the option for self-reflection, reviewing and editing their character's performance. The conscious and self-conscious functions of the brain may be collectively referred to as the mind.
In conventional parlance, the brain's conscious mechanism associated with automated stimulus-response behaviours is referred to as the subconscious or unconscious mind, for the reason that its functions require neither observation nor attention from the self-conscious mind. Subconscious mind functions evolved long before the prefrontal cortex, consequently it historically was able to successfully operate a body and its behaviour without any contribution from, or involvement with, the more evolved self-conscious mind.
The subconscious mind is an astonishingly powerful information processor that can record perceptual experiences (programs) and forever play them back at the push of a button. Interestingly, many people only become aware of their subconscious mind's automated programmed behaviours when they realise they're engaged in an undesirable behaviour as a result of someone "pushing their buttons."
The power of the subconscious mind lies in its ability to process massive amounts of data acquired from direct and indirect learning experiences at extraordinarily high rates of speed. It has been estimated that the disproportionately larger brain mass providing the subconscious mind's function has the ability to interpret and respond to over 40 million nerve impulses per second. In contrast, it is estimated that the diminutive self-conscious mind's prefrontal cortex can only process about 40 nerve impulses per second. As an information processor, the subconscious mind is one million times more powerful than the self-conscious mind.
As a tradeoff in acquiring its computational bravado, the subconscious mind expresses a marginal creative ability, one that may be best compared to that of a precocious five year old. In contrast to the freewill offered by the conscious mind, the subconscious mind primarily expresses prerecorded stimulus-response "habits." Once a behaviour pattern is learned, such as walking, getting dressed or driving a car, those programs are processed as habits in the subconscious mind… meaning you can carry out these complex functions without paying any attention to them.
In contrast to the massive information processing by the subconscious mind, the smaller prefrontal cortex responsible for self-consciousness is limited to juggling only a small number of tasks at the same time. Though its ability for multitasking is physically constrained, the self-conscious mind can focus upon and control any function in the human body. It was once thought that some body's functions were beyond the control of the self-conscious mind, such involuntary functions included the regulation of heartbeat, blood pressure and body temperature, behaviours controlled by the unconscious autonomic nervous system. However, it is now recognised that yogis and other practitioners that train their conscious minds can absolutely control functions formerly defined as involuntary behaviours.
The subconscious and self-conscious components of the mind work in tandem. The subconscious mind controls every behaviour that is not attended to by the self-conscious mind. For most people, their self-conscious minds are rarely focused upon the current moment since their mental processing continuously flits from one thought to another. The self-conscious mind is so preoccupied with thoughts about the future, the past or resolving some imaginary problem, that most of our lives are actually controlled by programs in the subconscious mind.
Cognitive neuroscientists conclude that the self-conscious mind contributes only about 5% of our cognitive activity. Consequently, 95% of our decisions, actions, emotions and behaviours are derived from the unobserved processing of the subconscious mind.
Simple Insights… Profound Consequences!
Through the management of "programmed" perceptions, the mind controls our biology, behaviour and gene activity. The seat of thinking, freewill, personal identity, and our wants, desires and intentions is a small 40 "bit" self-conscious processor that controls our lives only 5% of the day or less. The million times more powerful subconscious mind controls 95% or more of our lives using "habits" derived from instincts and the perceptions acquired in our life experiences.
This data reveals that our lives are not controlled by our personal intentions and desires as we may inherently believe. Do the math! Our fate is actually under the control of the preprogrammed experiences managed by the subconscious mind. The most powerful and influential programs in the subconscious mind were downloaded into consciousness in the profoundly important formative period between gestation and six years of age. Now here's the catch – these life-shaping subconscious programs are direct downloads derived from observing our primary teachers… our parents, siblings and local community. Unfortunately, as psychiatrists, psychologists and counsellors are keenly aware, many of the perceptions acquired about ourselves in the formative period are expressed as limiting and self-sabotaging beliefs.
Unbeknownst to most parents is the fact that their words and actions are being continuously recorded by their children's minds. Consequently, when they inform their child that he or she does not deserve things, or that they are not good enough, or smart enough, or that they are sickly, these pronouncements are directly downloaded into their child's subconscious. Since the role of the mind is to make coherence between its programs and real life, the brain generates appropriate behavioural responses to life's stimuli to assure the "truth" of the programmed perceptions.
Let's apply this understanding to the behaviour in one's life. Consider that you were a 5-year-old child throwing a tantrum in Walmart over your desire to have a particular toy. In silencing your outburst, your father yelled, "YOU don't deserve things!" You are now an adult and in your self-conscious mind you are considering the idea that you have the qualities and power to assume a position of leadership at your job. While in the process of entertaining this positive thought in the self-conscious mind, all of your behaviours are now being automatically managed by the programs in your more powerful subconscious mind. Since your fundamental behavioural programs are those derived in your formative years, your father's admonition that "you do not deserve things" may become the subconscious mind's automated directive. So while you are entertaining wonderful thoughts of a positive future and not paying attention, your subconscious mind is automatically engaging self-sabotaging behaviour to assure that your reality matches your program of not-deserving.
Now here's the catch – Behaviour is automatically controlled by subconscious mind's programs when the self-conscious mind is not focused on the present moment. When the reflective self-conscious mind is preoccupied in thought and not paying attention, it does not observe the automatic behaviours derived from subconscious mind. Since 95% or more of our behaviour is derived from the subconscious mind… then most of our own behaviour is invisible to us!
For example, consider you intimately know someone and you also know his or her parent. From your perspective you see that your friend's behaviour closely resembles their parent. Then one day you casually remark to your friend something like, "You know Mary, you're just like your mom." Back away! In disbelief and perhaps shock, Mary will likely respond with, "How can you say that!" The cosmic joke is that everyone else can see that Mary's behaviour resembles her mom's except Mary. Why? Simply because when Mary is engaging the subconscious behavioural programs she downloaded in her youth from observing her mom, it's because her self-conscious mind is not paying attention. At those moments, her automatic subconscious programs operate without observation.
Another familiar example of how "invisible" behaviour operates: You are driving your car while having an intense conversation with a friend in the passenger's seat. You become so involved in the discussion that only later, when your gaze returns to the road, do you realise that you haven't paid attention to the driving for the last ten minutes. Since the self-conscious mind was preoccupied with the conversation, the car was being driven by the subconscious mind's "autopilot" mode. However, if you were asked to describe your driving behaviour during that ten-minute hiatus, you would be forced to say, "I don't know… I wasn't paying attention." Aha! That's the point – when the conscious mind is busy, we do not observe our own programmed subconscious behaviours.
Consequently, when life does not work out as planned, we rarely recognise that we were very likely contributing to our own disappointments. Since we are generally unaware of the influence of our own subconscious behaviours, we naturally perceive of our selves as victims of forces outside of us when things don't work out as desired. Unfortunately, assuming the role of victim means that we assume we are powerless in manifesting our intentions. Nothing is further from the truth! The primary determinant in shaping the fate of our lives is the database of perceptions and beliefs programmed in our minds.
Where Did That Behaviour Come From?
There are three sources of perceptions that control our biology and behaviour. The most primitive perceptions are those we acquire with our genome. Built into our genes are programs that provide fundamental reflex behaviours referred to as instincts. Pulling your hand out of an open flame is a genetically derived behaviour that does not have to be learned. More complex instincts include the ability of newborn babies to swim like a dolphin or the activation of innate healing mechanisms to repair a damaged system or eliminate a cancerous growth. Genetically inherited instincts are perceptions acquired from nature.
The second source of life-controlling perceptions represents memories derived from life experiences downloaded into the subconscious mind. These profoundly powerful learned perceptions represent the contribution from nurture. Among the earliest perceptions of life to be downloaded are the emotions and sensations experienced by the mother as she responds to her world. Along with nutrition, the emotional chemistry, hormones, and stress factors controlling the mother's responses to life experiences cross the placental barrier and influence fetal physiology and development. When the mother is happy, so is the fetus. When the mother is in fear, so is the fetus. When the mother "rejects" her fetus as a potential threat to family survival, the fetal nervous system is preprogrammed with the emotion of being rejected. Sue Gearhardt's very valuable book Why Love Matters reveals that the fetal nervous system records memories of womb experiences. By the time the baby is born, emotional information downloaded from the life experiences in womb have already shaped half of that individual's personality.
However, the most influential perceptual programming of the subconscious mind occurs in the time period spanning from the birth process through the first six years of life. During this time the child's brain is recording all sensory experiences as well as learning complex motor programs for speech, and for learning first how to crawl and then how to stand and ultimately run and jump. Simultaneously, the subconscious mind acquires perceptions in regard to parents, who are they and what they do. Then by observing behavioural patterns of people in their immediate environment (usually parents, siblings and relatives), a child learns perceptions of acceptable and unacceptable social behaviours that become the subconscious programs that establish the "rules" of life.
Nature facilitates the enculturation process by developmentally enhancing the subconscious mind's ability to download massive amounts of information. EEG readings from adult brains reveal that neural electrical activity is correlated with different states of awareness. Adult EEG readings show that the human brain operates on at least five different frequency levels, each associated with a different brain state:
EEG vibrations continuously shift from state to state over the whole range of frequencies during normal brain processing in adults. However, brain frequencies in developing children display a radically different behaviour. EEG vibration rates and their corresponding states evolve in incremental stages over time. The predominant brain activity during the child's first two years of life is delta, the lowest EEG frequency range. In the adult brain, delta is associated with sleeping or unconsciousness.
Between two and six years of age, the child's brain activity state ramps up and it operates primarily in the range of theta. In the adult, theta activity is associated with states of reverie or imagination. While in the theta state, children spend much of their time mixing the imaginary world with the real world. Calm consciousness associated with emerging alpha activity only becomes a predominant brain state after six years of age. By twelve years, the brain expresses all frequency ranges although its primary activity is in beta's state of focused consciousness. Children leave elementary education behind at this age and enter into the more intense academic programs of junior high.
A profoundly important fact in the above timeline that may have missed your attention is that children do not express the alpha EEG frequencies of conscious processing as a predominant brain state until afterthey are six years old. The predominant delta and theta activity of children under six signifies that their brains are operating at levels below consciousness. Delta and theta brain frequencies define a brain state known as a hypnogogic trance, the same neural state that hypnotherapists use to download new behaviours directly into the subconscious mind of their clients.
The first six years of a child's life is spent in a hypnotic trance. Its perceptions of the world are directly downloaded into the subconscious during this time, without the discrimination of the, as yet, dormant self-conscious mind. Consequently, our fundamental perceptions about life and our role in it are learned before we express the capacity to choose or reject those beliefs. We were simply "programmed." The Jesuits were aware of this programmable state and proudly boasted, "Give us a child until it is six or seven years old and it will belong to the Church for the rest of its life." They knew that once the dogma of the Church was implanted into the child's subconscious mind, that information would inevitably influence 95% of that individual's behaviour for the rest of their life.
The inhibition of conscious processing (alpha EEG activity) and the simultaneous engagement of a hypnogogic trance during the formative stages of a child's life are a logical necessity. The thinking processes associated with the self-conscious mind's processing cannot operate from a blank slate. Self-conscious behaviour requires a working database of learned perceptions. Consequently, before self-consciousness is expressed, the brain's primary task is to acquire a working awareness of the world by directly downloading experiences and observations into the subconscious mind.
HOWEVER, there is a very, very serious downside to acquiring awareness by this method. The consequence is so profound that it not only impacts the life of the individual, it can also alter an entire civilisation. The issue concerns the fact that we download our perceptions and beliefs about life long before we acquire the ability for critical thinking. Our primary perceptions are literally written in stone as unequivocal truths in the subconscious mind, where they habitually operate for life, unless there is an active effort to reprogram them. When as young children we download limiting or sabotaging beliefs about ourselves, these perceptions become our truths and our subconscious processing will invisibly generate behaviours that are coherent with those truths.
As an important point for personal reference, it should be noted that acquired perceptions in the subconscious mind could even override genetically endowed instincts. For example, every human can instinctually swim like a dolphin the moment they emerge from the birth canal. This might prompt you to ask, "Why is it that we have to work so hard at teaching our children how to swim?" The answer lies in the fact that every time the infant encounters open water, such as a pool, a river, a bathtub, the parents freak out in concern for the safety of their child. However, in the baby's mind, the parent's behaviour causes the child to equate water as something to be feared. The acquired perception of water as dangerous and life threatening, overrides the instinctual ability to swim and makes the formerly proficient child susceptible to drowning.
The following is further reference to the fact that our unconsciously acquired cultural beliefs control biology and behaviour. Through our developmental experiences we acquire the perception that we are frail, vulnerable organisms subject to the ravages of contagious germs and disease. The belief of being frail actually leads to frailty since the mind's limiting perceptions inhibit the body's innate ability to heal itself. This influence of the mind on healing processes is the focus of psychoneuroimmunology, the field that describes the mechanism by which our thoughts change brain chemistry, which in turn regulates the function of the immune system. While negative beliefs can precipitate illness (nocebo effect), the resulting dis-ease state can be alleviated through the healing effects of positive thoughts (placebo effect).
Finally, the third source of perceptions that shape our lives is derived from the self-conscious mind. Unlike the reflexive programming of subconscious mind, the self-conscious mind is a creative platform that provides for the mixing and morphing a variety of perceptions with the infusion of imagination, a process that generates an unlimited number of beliefs and behavioural variations. The quality of the self-conscious mind endows organisms with one of the most powerful forces in the Universe, the opportunity to express freewill.
Taking Personal Responsibility
The conclusions of the "new" biology provide a radical departure from our conventional beliefs of how life works. In contrast to the notion that we are biochemical automatons driven by genes, the new insights reveal that it is the mind that controls genes, which in turn shape our biology and behaviour. The self-conscious mind, associated with our individual identity and the manifestation of thoughts, is guided by our own personal desires and intentions.
While we generally perceive that our self-conscious mind is "controlling" the show, neuroscience has established the fact that 95% of our behaviour is under the control of the more powerful subconscious mind. As most of our personal and cultural problems arise from the fact that behaviours derived from the subconscious mind are essentially invisible to us, we rarely observe our automated behaviour.
Compounding the problem is the fact that fundamental programs in the subconscious mind are derived from others, people who generally do not share your personal goals and aspirations. While our conscious minds are trying to move us toward our dreams, unbeknownst to us our subconscious programs are simultaneously shooting ourselves in the foot and impeding our progress.
The subconscious mind is simply a "record-playback" mechanism that downloads experiences into "behavioural tapes." While the self-conscious mind is associated with creativity, the subconscious mind's function is to engage previously recorded programs. Unlike self-consciousness that is overseen by an entity (you), the subconscious mind is more closely related to a machine, meaning there is no thinking, conscious entity controlling the subconscious programs.
We have all been shackled with emotional chains wrought by dysfunctional behaviours programmed by the stories of the past. However, the next time you are talking to "yourself" with the hope of changing sabotaging subconscious programs, it is important to realise the following information. Using reason to communicate with your subconscious in an effort to change its behaviour would essentially have the same influence as trying to change a program on a cassette tape by talking to the tape player. In neither case is there an entity in the mechanism that will respond to your dialogue.
Subconscious programs are not fixed, unchangeable behaviours. We have the ability to rewrite our limiting beliefs and in the process take control of our lives. However, to change subconscious programs requires the activation of a process other than just engaging in a running dialogue with the subconscious mind. There are a large variety of effective processes to reprogram limiting beliefs, which include clinical hypnotherapy, Buddhist mindfulness and a number of newly developed and very powerful modalities collectively referred to as energy psychology.
For a list of resources, visit: www.brucelipton.com.
About the Author
Bruce H. Lipton, Ph.D. is an internationally recognised cellular biologist who taught cell biology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and later performed pioneering studies at Stanford University's School of Medicine. His breakthrough research on the cell membrane in 1977 made him a pioneer in the new science of epigenetics. He is author of The Biology of Belief and a sought after keynote speaker and workshop presenter. He also created a full-length audio course The Wisdom of Your Cells: How Your Beliefs Control Your Biology.
The above article appeared in New Dawn No. 106 (Jan-Feb 2008).
If you appreciated this article, please consider a digital subscription to New Dawn.
© Copyright New Dawn Magazine, http://www.newdawnmagazine.com. Permission granted to freely distribute this article for non-commercial purposes if unedited and copied in full, including this notice.
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text: The housings for this range of single-function timer relays measure just 6.2 mm, up to 70% narrower than conventional timer relays. They have a recessed, labeled thumb wheel at the front that can be adjusted to ensure precise time settings. Time settings range from 0.1 sec. to 5 sec. The 24-Vdc timer relays transmit output signals by using a floating, change-over contact.

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Sitka mouse
Order : Rodentia
Suborder : Sciurognathi
Family : Muridae
Subfamily : Sigmodontinae
Species : Peromyscus sitkensis
The Sitka mouse is listed as Least Concern (LR/lc), lowest risk. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Namings for the Sitka mouse
A young / baby of a Sitka mouse is called a 'pinkie, kitten or pup'. The females are called 'doe' and males 'buck'. A Sitka mouse group is called a 'nest, colony, harvest, horde or mischief'.Countries
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[email protected] | Baby Steps lead to Long Lasting Changes
Elizabeth was great to work with! I got so much more out of her program than I ever expected! Changing my diet to simple, whole foods has left me feeling thin, full of energy, and healthy. Even when I felt like I had faltered, Elizabeth was really encouraging, making it possible for me to stick with the program. Knowledgeable, responsive, well-prepared and always on time, I truly appreciate her dedication to her work and my success! A true professional.
Julie Bredimus - Virginia
I chose the Healthy Eating Challenge because I suspected I had some undiscovered food allergies. What I got from the program was so much more. It seemed a bit intimidating at first to start making everything from scratch but thanks to the shopping list, menus, program materials and the group support, I found it was much easier than I expected. I also realized that I was eating a lot of junk in my everyday diet! Changing my diet to simple, whole foods (and not beating myself up when I faltered!) has left me feeling thin, full of energy, and healthy. I notice my skin is smoother. Ironically, some of the foods that I never thought I could leave behind just taste bad to me at this point. Most of all, I believe this is a way of eating and a lifestyle I can continue. I may have to repeat the program again so I can get my hands on your other seasonal menu plans! I love the recipes!
Julie B - Virginia
Thank you Elizabeth, for making this available - and for supporting us with your knowledge and passion....and 'realism'! I have been on many short term 'diets' in my life to attempt to control my weight, but have never gone into a 'program' with feeling better as my goal...apparently long overdue! I've been on the road, and eating out, for most of this program and have accomplished an enormous change in my habits. Sure, I've lost around 10 pounds (and my clothes fit much better) but the real results came in how I've FELT. I've dabbled in adding some foods back (in moderation) but have pretty much stuck to the program since day 1. I'm sure at some point that I will eat something that will have my wife wincing, but the morning elixir, shakes (when I'm home), addition of fruits and veggies, eating 3x a day and better choices in general (which isn't so bad after all!) will surely stay with me.More energy, no heartburn, better sleep and a sense of accomplishment pride are just a few of the benefits I've experienced.Thank you so much.
Scott Yellen - New Jersey
I have constant energy, I am focusing better and losing weight my body doesn't need. I was struggling to lose the last five pounds and they fell right off plus more!
Kristen Hatton - New Jersey
After doing a program with Elizabeth, I have more energy throughout the day, I'm sleeping so much better and I have lost weight. A patient even told me yesterday that my skin looked brighter and clearer. It really is making a difference!
Dr. Doug Weiss - Virginia
The best thing was being reminded of what I really should be eating all year long and discovering new recipes to help me. As I posted a few days ago, I'm not stopping the challenge!
Betsy S - New Jersey
Overall, this challenge has been very eye opening! Not only has it opened my eyes on what I am putting in my body but also what is going on my body and around my body. I think it is crucial that we, as people, take the time to really discover what "works" for our bodies and what doesn't work. I feel amazing -- I wouldn't go back to eating highly processed foods, no way! I love the way I feel - I have ample amounts of energy and get so much accomplished. I drink lots of water and make sure I'm eating "around the rainbow". Thank you Elizabeth for taking me on this journey - you have taught me so much! I hope others will take this challenge & learn to let your body heal itself instead of covering it up with medications. Listen to your body it's the smartest thing you'll ever meet.
Kristen H - New Jersey
Is it really over? I would love to do more! Elizabeth Girouard, I really liked this program a lot and will keep doing it!
Susanne Bayard - New Jersey
Elizabeth is the maven of healthy, gluten-free and low sugar living! She is a wealth of knowledge in helping to identify and deal with food issues and sensitivities. Each and every time we talk 1-on-1 she inspires me, keeps me motivated and keeps me accountable. One of my greatest challenges has been trying to improve my entire family's eating habits. Elizabeth has tons of personal experience in this area that she openly shares, along with recipes and practical tips that have helped me make gradual changes that last. I now make smoothies for my kids -- with spinach and chia seeds! She also has helped me eat healthier for my body -- I never would've thought that pumpkin seeds weren't good for my GI tract! Because she's a wife, mother and professional-- she "gets" the challenges life throws at us and offers easy solutions that work. We're on the road to pure simple wellness and you can be too. Just contact Elizabeth. You won't regret it!
Diana Sabloff – New Jersey
I had the best sleep in a while last night, and have great energy all day. Also I'm far less bloated!
Leslie Oberhuber – New Jersey
The best part of this program was sharing the experience with my husband – food prep, eating healthy, even going to a restaurant and not having the bread! It makes it so much easier to be disciplined when we are both on the same page! Plus I have been sleeping great every night!
Donna Schwartz - New Jersey
My cholesterol went down by 130 points! My doctor was amazed. I love the recipes I've tried so far. I take a picture of your shopping list with my phone, so I always have it with me and it helps me to make good food choices. The program is going great so far – and my digestion is so much improved. Thank you again for this gift of health!
Sharon G – Alaska
I wanted to thank you so much for this program. I was just going to do this to help my husband, but I have really embraced the changes and feel confident that I'm going to continue them. I have a physical in March and I'm curious how my cholesterol levels will be. I don't have those crazy sugar cravings and don't miss the processed foods.
Daryl C - New Jersey
After a few days on Elizabeth's program my energy is noticeably higher. My snoring is gone. I've lost weight. The persistent tickle in my throat and cough are all cleared up. I'm looking forward to the next chapter. Elizabeth, thank you for a great program. There was plenty of support along the way. I feel like I've changed some habits for the long-term.
Ben Caiola – New Jersey
Elizabeth, thanks for an amazing program! You have really opened my eyes to a new way of thinking about food. It has made me so much more aware of what I am eating and how it makes me feel. I intend to continue incorporating these guidelines into my daily life. I would highly recommend working with Elizabeth!
Christy Gunville– Virginia
Before this healthy eating challenge I had never: -made a smoothie with kale or spinach -made and eaten chia pudding -used coconut oil -eaten so many veggies on a daily basis -drank almond milk -ate so many sunflower seeds. Love them in salads now! -cut out processed foods from my diet I'm so glad I took the "challenge" and learned so much from Elizabeth Girouard and each of you (in the group)! Thank you!!!
Lisa Parkin - New Jersey


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[Dev] sent in an interesting blog series on hacking Amazon's kindle. [Igor] has documented getting a console, the bootloader and more. Even if you don't have a Kindle to hack on, it's a good overview of hacking similar devices. He used a cell phone cable to build his interface, but I suggest getting familiar with the MAX232 family of semiconductors for cheap rs-232 to ttl converters.
4 thoughts on "Console On The Kindle (and More)"
WOW–this kindle thing has a whole lot of stuff in it. I guess it's partly because Amazon's new to all of this–I would have expected a simpler and more compact design for some of the components if it were from a company that's been working on this stuff longer (is that external PIC uC really necessary?)
makes it a whole lot more fun to hack, though =)
hacking the Kindle holds huge potential IMO. Imagine free web browsing anywhere any time! Not only that almost any app can have a web interface (google docs)
Just came across your blog on Google. Interesting post, you bring up a few good things to think about. Good luck with the blog.
remember that the browsing that the kindle does must go through the amazon web proxy servers, so they can throttle or block access.
out of the box the kindle includes a browser, so you have this capability today (it's not a very good browser, but it is there and does work)
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Creativity Workshop Starts January in Oakland!
Six to One : Six Weeks to Complete One Creative Project
Are you ready to kick your creative work into high gear?
Starting in January, and meeting for six weeks, the Six to One course will challenge and hold you to complete your chosen creative goal. Each week, we'll meet, set intentions, check in about our work, and set about the task of completing a creative goal. We'll also have guest co-leaders teach a new skill each week that will empower you to get closer to your goal.
Life is short: If you've had a creative project on the back burner–or the front burner–for months or years and needed that special combination of kick-in-the-butt and holding-the-hand to really get it done, this is your chance. Life is short and it's time to live it up!
Small Group, Special Attention: With eight participants, you will divide into four pairs. Your partner for the course will be your daily action partner (you'll let each other know at the beginning of the day what you plan to do and at the end of the day what you did do.) We'll also have a mid-week phone call to check in about your progress each week so that you don't have any chance to slip through the cracks.
The Syllabus:
The evening meetings will be approximately three hours; the first hour will be for checking in, and a new guest co-leader each week will join us for two hours and lead us in the following skills.
Week One: Visioning, clarifying and setting intentions for your project. We'll get really clear on what your project is, get a timeline worksheet to break the work into manageable sized tasks, and then give each participant the attention of the group.
Guest co-leader and I "circle" the group regarding desire and fulfillment and letting the deep heart lead.
Week Two: Writing and the unconscious, opening the channel to creativity.
Guest co-leader and I lead the group to unblock the heart and the pen and help you "blow out the pipes" to get the creative juices flowing. We'll write until we get blisters on our fingers. Well, almost. And this will be a practice you can take into the next five weeks to increase the speed and reduce the censorship of your creative flow.
Week Three: Making your dreams sing, using your voice.
Guest co-leader and I lead a voice session that will allow you to purify, align and express your intentions, and make them manifest through sound. As you speak your dreams, you reify them.
Week Four: Embodiment and aliveness. Your life is a performance. We are working from the subtle levels to the gross, from inside out in this course. This is the process of manifestation. This is not airy-fairy stuff, it's just plain creation.
Guest co-leader and I will take you from thought to word to speech to body, and awakening your whole being.
Week Five: Support, self-care, and stepping into a bigger you. One reason we don't step into a bigger Self in our lives is that staying small keeps us "safe".
Guest co-leader and I lead you in learning the essential skills of self-care and boundary setting that allow for a sense of safety and security which ultimately allow you to take your wings and fly.
Week Six: Celebration and integration. If you have ever found yourself caught in a never-ending cycle of doing without rest and appreciation for the hard work you've done, you may not have learned how to enjoy yourself properly.
Guest co-leader and I offer a celebration and integration of music and party (!) where you will learn to truly celebrate your accomplishments and allow yourself to receive the benefits of your work. Authentic joy and celebration builds in such way that it pervades every area of our lives and warms the hearts of all those we come in contact with.
It's not where you are that matters. It's how far you've come.
Early bird signup: now until December 11 and get $100 off! ($195) After December 11, the course is $295.
In this project-based course, you get the support of:
-Special attention with a small group
-Community building with fellow artists and creators
-Eighteen (18) hours of class time
-A daily action partner to check in with
-A midweek conference call with the group to keep the momentum high
-Email access to Alicia for questions


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Physical Therapy in Merrick and Amityville for Upper Back and Neck
Welcome to Summit Physical Therapy's patient resource about Thoracic Spine Anatomy.
The section of the spine found in the upper back is called the thoracic spine. It goes from the base of the neck to the bottom of the rib cage. Knowing the main parts of the thoracic spine and how these parts work is important as you learn to care for your back problem.
Two common anatomic terms are useful as they relate to the thoracic spine. The term anterior refers to the front of the spine.
The term posterior refers to the back of the spine. The front of the thoracic spine is therefore called the anterior thoracic area. The back of the thoracic spine is called the posterior thoracic area.
This guide gives a general overview of the anatomy of the thoracic spine.
It should help you understand:
- what parts make up the thoracic spine
- how these parts work


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Granite workers strike, picket, and march against wage stagnation and job insecurity, 1933
In 1933, granite workers in the city of Barre, Vermont (VT), United States labored under nation-wide economic distress. The Great Depression was in its fourth year — a monumental stock market crash throughout much of the world in 1929, combined with a massive drought in the US, placed strain on the capitalist system, putting millions out of work and causing wages and job growth across the country to reverse. Granite companies began cutting staff and offering lower pay raises.


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This information was developed by the Publications Committee of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). For more information about ASGE, visit www.asge.org.
This information is intended only to provide general guidance. It does not provide definitive medical advice. It is important that you consult your doctor about your specific condition.
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Upper endoscopy lets your doctor examine the lining of the upper part of your gastrointestinal tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach and duodenum (the first portion of the small intestine). Your doctor will use a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope, which has its own lens and light source, and will view the images on a video monitor.
Upper endoscopy helps your doctor evaluate symptoms of upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. It's the best test for finding the cause of bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract. It is also more accurate than X-ray films for detecting inflammation, ulcers and tumors of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. Your doctor might use upper endoscopy to obtain a biopsy (small tissue samples). A biopsy helps your doctor distinguish between benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) tissues. Remember, biopsies are taken for many reasons, and your doctor may take a biopsy even if he or she does not suspect cancer. For example, your doctor might use a biopsy to test for Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium that causes ulcers. Your doctor might also use upper endoscopy to perform a cytology test, where he or she will introduce a small brush to collect cells for analysis. Upper endoscopy is also used to treat conditions of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Your doctor can pass instruments through the endoscope to directly treat many abnormalities - this will cause you little or no discomfort. For example, your doctor might stretch (dilate) a narrowed area, remove polyps (usually benign growths) or treat bleeding.
An empty stomach allows for the best and safest examination, so you should have nothing to eat or drink, including water, for approximately six hours before the examination. Your doctor will tell you when you should start fasting as the timing
can vary. Tell your doctor in advance about any medications you take; you might need to adjust your usual dose for the examination. Discuss any allergies to medications as well as medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease.
Most medications can be continued as usual, but some medications can interfere with the preparation or the examination. Inform your doctor about medications you're taking, particularly aspirin products or antiplatelet agents, arthritis medications, anticoagulants (blood thinners such as warfarin or heparin), clopidogrel, insulin or iron products. Also, be sure to mention any allergies you have to medications.
Your doctor might start by spraying your throat with a local anesthetic or by giving you a sedative to help you relax. You'll then lie on your side, and your doctor will pass the endoscope through your mouth and into the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. The endoscope doesn't interfere with your breathing. Most patients consider the test only slightly uncomfortable, and many patients fall asleep during the procedure.
You will be monitored until most of the effects of the medication have worn off. Your throat might be a little sore, and you might feel bloated because of the air introduced into your stomach during the test. You will be able to eat after you leave unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Your physician will explain the results of the examination to you, although you'll probably have to wait for the results of any biopsies performed.
If you have been given sedatives during the procedure, someone must drive you home and stay with you. Even if you feel alert after the procedure, your judgment and reflexes could be impaired for the rest of the day.
Although complications can occur, they are rare when doctors who are specially trained and experienced in this procedure perform the test. Bleeding can occur at a biopsy site or where a polyp was removed, but it's usually minimal and rarely requires follow-up. Perforation (a hole or tear in the gastrointestinal tract lining) may require surgery but this is a very uncommon complication. Some patients might have a reaction to the sedatives or complications from heart or lung disease. Although complications after upper endoscopy are very uncommon, it's important to recognize early signs of possible complications. Contact your doctor immediately if you have a fever after the test or if you notice trouble swallowing or increasing throat, chest or abdominal pain, or bleeding, including black stools. Note that bleeding can occur several days after the procedure.
If you have any concerns about a possible complication, it is always best to contact your doctor right away.
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Doctors have nearly doubled their use of tablets since 2011, a May 10 report by Manhattan Research revealed.
In its annual "Taking the Pulse" study, Manhattan Research found that tablet use by doctors reached 62 percent in 2012, compared with 35 percent of physician tablet adoption in 2011.
"Taking the Pulse" is an annual report that examines the adoption of technology by physicians. Half of the doctors who own tablets are using them at the point of care, according Manhattan Research.
"It's a natural fit to have a mobile device that has a wider capability than just a smartphone," Monique Levy, vice president of research at the company, told eWEEK. "It's just the best of the desktop world and the smartphone world."
In the first quarter of 2011, Manhattan Research interviewed 3,015 U.S. doctors across more than 25 specialties for the study. The company will examine how nurses use mobile devices next, said Levy.
In its 2011 "Taking the Pulse" study, Manhattan Research found that 75 percent of doctors prefer Apple mobile devices over those of competitors, such as Motorola and Samsung. In the 2012 study, 81 percent of tablet owners were using an iPad.
The physician market will likely reach 100 percent penetration of tablets, but the speed of adoption will be more the issue, said Levy. "We really see that as a very clear utility for physicians," she said.
Doctors are using mobile devices to read medical news, research symptoms and access drug reference databases from companies such as Epocrates and WebMD. They're also prescribing medication electronically.
A smaller number of doctors are using the apps to access electronic health records (EHRs) and lab results, Levy noted.
More software innovation will be necessary for these clinical applications to take off on the iPad, according to a Jan. 31 report by Spyglass Consulting Group, called "Point of Care Computing for Physicians 2012."
To read the original eWeek article, click here: Tablet Use Nearly Doubles Among Doctors Since 2011: Report


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SPIKA Cubers NG 175
SPIKA Series offers the "Classic American" style of ice available in full and half dice shaped cubes, that will meet the most stringent demands of the food service industry.A new revolutionary system for water distribution, patented by ITV, allows water to "cascade" over the entire evaporator, allowing SPIKA cubes to take form perfectly.
The Vertical Plate Evaporator, specially designed by ITV's engineers is much more energy efficient than others, resulting in lower operating cost and greater savings, while maintaining the utmost environmental friendliness.
Beverages are chilled in a very short time while not affecting the taste. The SPIKA Series meets the most demanding requirements with fast ice production.


text: This dramatic short is intended to be a conversation starter on the topic of sex, responsibility and contraception. When young, popular Kristen suspects that she's pregnant, she and her boyfriend Jason are forced to answer some difficult questions: Will they keep the baby? What are their thoughts on abortion? Adoption? How will their actions affect their futures? Baby Blues reflects the teenage point of view without moralizing or sugar-coating the issue and dramatizes the consequences of ignoring birth control in a way that breaks through the "it can't happen to me" barrier. Appropriate for classroom use.


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LITTLE LUNCH Handlebar Bag MultiCam Black
- Regular Price
- $99.00
- Sale Price
- $99.00
- Regular Price
- Unit Price
- Translation missing: en.general.accessibility.unit_price_separator
The Little Lunch Handlebar Bag sits neatly on almost any flat or drop bar. The 2 one-wrap straps allow the rider to mount it quickly to their bars and the shock cord toggle wraps around the head tube to reduce movement whilst riding. There are two bar mount options should you need to shuffle one of the straps across to accommodate a bell or computer.
The main compartment has a 2.12 litre cylinder shaped volume suited for jackets, small cameras and snacks. This is via the YKK AquaGuard® zip which help shelter the contents from the elements. The main wall has been reinforced to allow the rider to access the bag one handed while riding, very useful for descending. This pocket is finished off with a crescent zipper pull making it easy to grab on rough ground.
Includes 1 pair of 15mm BLOC Handlebar Bag Spacers.
This Little Lunch Handlebar Bag is made to order, please check our current production lead times.
Want to learn more about the selection process of our materials.
Follow us on Instagram to stay up to date with the latest product releases.
Weather Resistant Nylon shell.
Protective Polypropylene main wall.
Light-weight 70D Ripstop Liner - Black.
YKK® AquaGuard Zip.
Reinforced Zip line.
Extended Crescent Zipper Pull.
Low profile One-Wrap Handlebar Mounts.
Weight: 140g
Dimensions: 280mm wide x 100mm diameter.


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September 28 2009
[Contribution to the Reimagining Society Project hosted by ZCommunications]
While we're still arguing about whether there's life after death, can we add another question to the cart? Is there life after democracy? What sort of life will it be? By "democracy" I don't mean democracy as an ideal or an aspiration. I mean the working model: Western liberal democracy, and its variants, such as they are.
So, is there life after democracy?
Attempts to answer this question often turn into a comparison of different systems of governance, and end with a somewhat prickly, combative defense of democracy. It's flawed, we say. It isn't perfect, but it's better than everything else that's on offer. Inevitably, someone in the room will say: "Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia... is that what you would prefer?"
Whether democracy should be the utopia that all "developing" societies aspire to is a separate question altogether. (I think it should. The early, idealistic phase can be quite heady.) The question about life after democracy is addressed to those of us who already live in democracies, or in countries that pretend to be democracies. It isn't meant to suggest that we lapse into older, discredited models of totalitarian or authoritarian governance. It's meant to suggest that the system of representative democracy -- too much representation, too little democracy -- needs some structural adjustment.
The question here, really, is what have we done to democracy? What have we turned it into? What happens once democracy has been used up? When it has been hollowed out and emptied of meaning? What happens when each of its institutions has metastasized into something dangerous? What happens now that democracy and the free market have fused into a single predatory organism with a thin, constricted imagination that revolves almost entirely around the idea of maximizing profit?
Is it possible to reverse this process? Can something that has mutated go back to being what it used to be? What we need today, for the sake of the survival of this planet, is long-term vision. Can governments whose very survival depends on immediate, extractive, short-term gain provide this? Could it be that democracy, the sacred answer to our short-term hopes and prayers, the protector of our individual freedoms and nurturer of our avaricious dreams, will turn out to be the endgame for the human race? Could it be that democracy is such a hit with modern humans precisely because it mirrors our greatest folly -- our nearsightedness?
Our inability to live entirely in the present (like most animals do), combined with our inability to see very far into the future, makes us strange in-between creatures, neither beast nor prophet. Our amazing intelligence seems to have outstripped our instinct for survival. We plunder the earth hoping that accumulating material surplus will make up for the profound, unfathomable thing that we have lost. It would be conceit to pretend I have the answers to any of these questions. But it does look as if the beacon could be failing and democracy can perhaps no longer be relied upon to deliver the justice and stability we once dreamed it would.
A Clerk of Resistance
As a writer, a fiction writer, I have often wondered whether the attempt to always be precise, to try and get it all factually right somehow reduces the epic scale of what is really going on. Does it eventually mask a larger truth? I worry that I am allowing myself to be railroaded into offering prosaic, factual precision when maybe what we need is a feral howl, or the transformative power and real precision of poetry.
Something about the cunning, Brahmanical, intricate, bureaucratic, file-bound, "apply-through-proper-channels" nature of governance and subjugation in India seems to have made a clerk out of me. My only excuse is to say that it takes odd tools to uncover the maze of subterfuge and hypocrisy that cloaks the callousness and the cold, calculated violence of the world's favorite new superpower. Repression "through proper channels" sometimes engenders resistance "through proper channels." As resistance goes this isn't enough, I know. But for now, it's all I have. Perhaps someday it will become the underpinning for poetry and for the feral howl.
Today, words like "progress" and "development" have become interchangeable with economic "reforms," "deregulation," and "privatization." Freedom has come to mean choice. It has less to do with the human spirit than with different brands of deodorant. Market no longer means a place where you buy provisions. The "market" is a de-territorialized space where faceless corporations do business, including buying and selling "futures." Justice has come to mean human rights (and of those, as they say, "a few will do").
This theft of language, this technique of usurping words and deploying them like weapons, of using them to mask intent and to mean exactly the opposite of what they have traditionally meant, has been one of the most brilliant strategic victories of the tsars of the new dispensation. It has allowed them to marginalize their detractors, deprive them of a language to voice their critique and dismiss them as being "anti-progress," "anti-development," "anti-reform," and of course "anti-national" -- negativists of the worst sort.
Talk about saving a river or protecting a forest and they say, "Don't you believe in progress?" To people whose land is being submerged by dam reservoirs, and whose homes are being bulldozed, they say, "Do you have an alternative development model?" To those who believe that a government is duty bound to provide people with basic education, health care, and social security, they say, "You're against the market." And who except a cretin could be against markets?
To reclaim these stolen words requires explanations that are too tedious for a world with a short attention span, and too expensive in an era when Free Speech has become unaffordable for the poor. This language heist may prove to be the keystone of our undoing.
Two decades of "Progress" in India has created a vast middle class punch-drunk on sudden wealth and the sudden respect that comes with it -- and a much, much vaster, desperate underclass. Tens of millions of people have been dispossessed and displaced from their land by floods, droughts, and desertification caused by indiscriminate environmental engineering and massive infrastructural projects, dams, mines, and Special Economic Zones. All developed in the name of the poor, but really meant to service the rising demands of the new aristocracy.
The hoary institutions of Indian democracy -- the judiciary, the police, the "free" press, and, of course, elections -- far from working as a system of checks and balances, quite often do the opposite. They provide each other cover to promote the larger interests of Union and Progress. In the process, they generate such confusion, such a cacophony, that voices raised in warning just become part of the noise. And that only helps to enhance the image of the tolerant, lumbering, colorful, somewhat chaotic democracy. The chaos is real. But so is the consensus.
A New Cold War in Kashmir
Speaking of consensus, there's the small and ever-present matter of Kashmir. When it comes to Kashmir the consensus in India is hard core. It cuts across every section of the establishment -- including the media, the bureaucracy, the intelligentsia, and even Bollywood.
The war in the Kashmir valley is almost 20 years old now, and has claimed about 70,000 lives. Tens of thousands have been tortured, several thousand have "disappeared," women have been raped, tens of thousands widowed. Half a million Indian troops patrol the Kashmir valley, making it the most militarized zone in the world. (The United States had about 165,000 active-duty troops in Iraq at the height of its occupation.) The Indian Army now claims that it has, for the most part, crushed militancy in Kashmir. Perhaps that's true. But does military domination mean victory?
How does a government that claims to be a democracy justify a military occupation? By holding regular elections, of course. Elections in Kashmir have had a long and fascinating past. The blatantly rigged state election of 1987 was the immediate provocation for the armed uprising that began in 1990. Since then elections have become a finely honed instrument of the military occupation, a sinister playground for India's deep state. Intelligence agencies have created political parties and decoy politicians, they have constructed and destroyed political careers at will. It is they more than anyone else who decide what the outcome of each election will be. After every election, the Indian establishment declares that India has won a popular mandate from the people of Kashmir.
In the summer of 2008, a dispute over land being allotted to the Amarnath Shrine Board coalesced into a massive, nonviolent uprising. Day after day, hundreds of thousands of people defied soldiers and policemen -- who fired straight into the crowds, killing scores of people -- and thronged the streets. From early morning to late in the night, the city reverberated to chants of "Azadi! Azadi!" (Freedom! Freedom!). Fruit sellers weighed fruit chanting "Azadi! Azadi!" Shopkeepers, doctors, houseboat owners, guides, weavers, carpet sellers -- everybody was out with placards, everybody shouted "Azadi! Azadi!" The protests went on for several days.
The protests were massive. They were democratic, and they were nonviolent. For the first time in decades fissures appeared in mainstream public opinion in India. The Indian state panicked. Unsure of how to deal with this mass civil disobedience, it ordered a crackdown. It enforced the harshest curfew in recent memory with shoot-on-sight orders. In effect, for days on end, it virtually caged millions of people. The major pro-freedom leaders were placed under house arrest, several others were jailed. House-to-house searches culminated in the arrests of hundreds of people.
Once the rebellion was brought under control, the government did something extraordinary -- it announced elections in the state. Pro-independence leaders called for a boycott. They were rearrested. Almost everybody believed the elections would become a huge embarrassment for the Indian government. The security establishment was convulsed with paranoia. Its elaborate network of spies, renegades, and embedded journalists began to buzz with renewed energy. No chances were taken. (Even I, who had nothing to do with any of what was going on, was put under house arrest in Srinagar for two days.)
Calling for elections was a huge risk. But the gamble paid off. People turned out to vote in droves. It was the biggest voter turnout since the armed struggle began. It helped that the polls were scheduled so that the first districts to vote were the most militarized districts even within the Kashmir valley.
None of India's analysts, journalists, and psephologists cared to ask why people who had only weeks ago risked everything, including bullets and shoot-on-sight orders, should have suddenly changed their minds. None of the high-profile scholars of the great festival of democracy -- who practically live in TV studios when there are elections in mainland India, picking apart every forecast and exit poll and every minor percentile swing in the vote count -- talked about what elections mean in the presence of such a massive, year-round troop deployment (an armed soldier for every 20 civilians).
No one speculated about the mystery of hundreds of unknown candidates who materialized out of nowhere to represent political parties that had no previous presence in the Kashmir valley. Where had they come from? Who was financing them? No one was curious. No one spoke about the curfew, the mass arrests, the lockdown of constituencies that were going to the polls.
Not many talked about the fact that campaigning politicians went out of their way to de-link Azadi and the Kashmir dispute from elections, which they insisted were only about municipal issues -- roads, water, electricity. No one talked about why people who have lived under a military occupation for decades -- where soldiers could barge into homes and whisk away people at any time of the day or night -- might need someone to listen to them, to take up their cases, to represent them.
The minute elections were over, the establishment and the mainstream press declared victory (for India) once again. The most worrying fallout was that in Kashmir, people began to parrot their colonizers' view of themselves as a somewhat pathetic people who deserved what they got. "Never trust a Kashmiri," several Kashmiris said to me. "We're fickle and unreliable." Psychological warfare, technically known as psy-ops, has been an instrument of official policy in Kashmir. Its depredations over decades -- its attempt to destroy people's self-esteem -- are arguably the worst aspect of the occupation. It's enough to make you wonder whether there is any connection at all between elections and democracy.
The trouble is that Kashmir sits on the fault lines of a region that is awash in weapons and sliding into chaos. The Kashmiri freedom struggle, with its crystal clear sentiment but fuzzy outlines, is caught in the vortex of several dangerous and conflicting ideologies -- Indian nationalism (corporate as well as "Hindu," shading into imperialism), Pakistani nationalism (breaking down under the burden of its own contradictions), U.S. imperialism (made impatient by a tanking economy), and a resurgent medieval-Islamist Taliban (fast gaining legitimacy, despite its insane brutality, because it is seen to be resisting an occupation). Each of these ideologies is capable of a ruthlessness that can range from genocide to nuclear war. Add Chinese imperial ambitions, an aggressive, reincarnated Russia, and the huge reserves of natural gas in the Caspian region and persistent whispers about natural gas, oil, and uranium reserves in Kashmir and Ladakh, and you have the recipe for a new Cold War (which, like the last one, is cold for some and hot for others).
In the midst of all this, Kashmir is set to become the conduit through which the mayhem unfolding in Afghanistan and Pakistan spills into India, where it will find purchase in the anger of the young among India's 150 million Muslims who have been brutalized, humiliated, and marginalized. Notice has been given by the series of terrorist strikes that culminated in the Mumbai attacks of 2008.
There is no doubt that the Kashmir dispute ranks right up there, along with Palestine, as one of the oldest, most intractable disputes in the world. That does not mean that it cannot be resolved. Only that the solution will not be completely to the satisfaction of any one party, one country, or one ideology. Negotiators will have to be prepared to deviate from the "party line."
Of course, we haven't yet reached the stage where the government of India is even prepared to admit that there's a problem, let alone negotiate a solution. Right now it has no reason to. Internationally, its stocks are soaring. And while its neighbors deal with bloodshed, civil war, concentration camps, refugees, and army mutinies, India has just concluded a beautiful election. However, "demon-crazy" can't fool all the people all the time. India's temporary, shotgun solutions to the unrest in Kashmir (pardon the pun), have magnified the problem and driven it deep into a place where it is poisoning the aquifers.
Is Democracy Melting?
Perhaps the story of the Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world, is the most appropriate metaphor for the insanity of our times. Thousands of Indian and Pakistani soldiers have been deployed there, enduring chill winds and temperatures that dip to minus 40 degrees Celsius. Of the hundreds who have died there, many have died just from the elements.
The glacier has become a garbage dump now, littered with the detritus of war -- thousands of empty artillery shells, empty fuel drums, ice axes, old boots, tents, and every other kind of waste that thousands of warring human beings generate. The garbage remains intact, perfectly preserved at those icy temperatures, a pristine monument to human folly.
While the Indian and Pakistani governments spend billions of dollars on weapons and the logistics of high-altitude warfare, the battlefield has begun to melt. Right now, it has shrunk to about half its size. The melting has less to do with the military standoff than with people far away, on the other side of the world, living the good life. They're good people who believe in peace, free speech, and in human rights. They live in thriving democracies whose governments sit on the U.N. Security Council and whose economies depend heavily on the export of war and the sale of weapons to countries like India and Pakistan. (And Rwanda, Sudan, Somalia, the Republic of Congo, Iraq, Afghanistan... it's a long list.)
The glacial melt will cause severe floods on the subcontinent, and eventually severe drought that will affect the lives of millions of people. That will give us even more reasons to fight. We'll need more weapons. Who knows? That sort of consumer confidence may be just what the world needs to get over the current recession. Then everyone in the thriving democracies will have an even better life -- and the glaciers will melt even faster.
Arundhati Roy was born in 1959 in Shillong, India. She studied architecture in New Delhi, where she now lives. She has worked as a film designer and screenplay writer in India. Roy is the author of the novel The God of Small Things, for which she received the 1997 Booker Prize. Her new book, just published by Haymarket Books, is Field Notes on Democracy: Listening to Grasshoppers. This post is adapted from the introduction to that book.


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I bottled my latest brew the other day, a Cream Ale. Basically it's a Canadian Draft mix with some Northern Brewer Hops. I also have a Vienna Lager maturing and which I plan to drink next weekend.
The only reason I'm posting about it is that after I was done bottling, I tried some of the yeasty flat leftovers at the bottom of the keg. By god, that stuff was delicious. It's going to be a quality beer. I just hope I didn't screw up the carbonation like I think I did. I keep waiting to hear a loud popping sound from one of the bottles exploding. Fortunately, I use a cooler for the storage, so it won't hurt anything if it does blow.
My next brew is going to be a Dopplebock. I've already got the ingredients, I just need to make bottle room. It looks to be a hell of a beverage, with three different kinds of malt extracts, a whole ounce of hops (instead of 1/4 ounce as per usual), and my first attempt at using liquid yeast. It also takes 6 months to bottle condition, so I'll have it around October or November. But it'll be about 9.2% ABV, so at least it'll have a good kick to it.


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Video interview recorded in 2001 by Harry Kroto, Edward Goldwyn and John Sulston with John Walker.
Scientist Fred Sanger is often considered the father of modern molecular biology, and is one of the few people to have been awarded two Nobel prizes. Working in Cambridge he developed a new chromatographic method for determining amino-acid end-groups. His new chromatographic results on the free amino groups of insulin were published in 1945 and the complete sequence of insulin in 1955.
After feeling the way with other slower and less accurate techniques, the "dideoxy" method for gene sequencing was developed. It was for this work that Fred was jointly awarded his second Nobel prize. This 20 minute video shows sections from the extensive Vega archive recordings of this extraordinary man.


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Wiley are excited to announce that CEO, Robert Barron, will be participating in the TRACTION 2020 CEO Bike Build to raise funds for TRACTION to support more young people in need.
TRACTION engages local communities and serves those most in need by providing a safe, inclusive, action-based environment where vulnerable youth build self-esteem, find a sense of belonging, discover their potential and create their own future.
The CEO Bike Build event will help CEO participants experience first-hand the benefits of TRACTION programs in the community, while helping TRACTION continue to provide a safe, learning environment for its participants.
Robert Barron, Wiley's Chief Executive Officer says, "I'll be working alongside a TRACTION participant aged 12-15 years of age, who'll showcase the skills they've developed at TRACTION and lead me through the process of building a bicycle from scratch. The bike we build will be donated to TRACTION as a project for a future participant. I'm looking forward to spending time with a young person in need and seeing firsthand the social impact that TRACTION delivers across South East Queensland communities. I sincerely appreciate any contribution you can make via my fundraising page for the event located HERE."
The CEO Bike Build event will take place on 11th September 2020. Wiley is proud to be a part of this event to help TRACTION raise funds for young people in need.


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Our Sitting Kookaburra Print beautifully captures this iconic native Australian bird in all his glory. The neutral colour palette also allows this wall art to be styled effortlessly within any space.
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Your artwork will be professionally printed with premium inks on beautiful, smooth 180gsm matte stock. The result is stunning and the print is made to last. All prints are made-to-order and posted securely in a sturdy mailing tube within 3-5 business days. Tracking is provided for both Australian and International orders to ensure their safe arrival. No frame is included with purchase.
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A flat rate of $10 is charged for shipping within Australia, International shipping is $20 (AUD). Australian orders over $75 ship free.
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*On the very rare occasion that a print is damaged during transit please contact us within 48hrs of delivery and provide clear photographs of the product and packaging for review.
Once reviewed and if deemed damaged by delivery, we will arrange a replacement at no cost to you. That's our promise.


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Community members and national onlookers are still reeling from last week's deadly shooting at a high school in Oxford, Mich., for which one student and his parents are facing charges.
The tragedy is highlighting an ongoing debate about school shooter drills and the best way to prepare students for the worst, while considering their mental well-being.
How Oxford students responded to the shooting
Oxford High School's most recent safety drill was in early October, according to its website. The school is one of many across the country that uses the ALICE Training Program, a controversial method that goes beyond traditional lockdowns and whose name stands for "Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate."
ALICE's website says it trains students on how to most effectively barricade rooms, communicate with police and use their time in lockdown to potentially prepare to counter a shooter if they gain entry (it stresses that step should be a last resort). Critics argue this approach could traumatize students and even increase their chances of being killed.
Video footage posted to social media of the students' response to the shooter showed them rushing out of first-floor windows rather than opening the classroom door, while other classrooms reportedly shoved desks against their doors and grabbed scissors for defense in case the attacker got inside — as they had been trained to do in lockdown drills.
Some students and county officials have credited the Oxford school's lockdown drills with saving lives and preventing an even worse outcome. The CEO of the ALICE Training Institute's parent company told nonprofit education site The 74that the Oxford community "would have seen three to 10 X the number of deaths" without the company's guidance.
But while active shooter drills have become common practice across much of the country, some experts and parents worry they may do more harm than good, particularly if they involve simulation.
One of those critics is Dr. David Schonfeld, director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles. He spoke to NPR's Steve Inskeep about how high-intensity drills can harm students' mental health, and shared what alternatives he would propose instead.
Listen to the full conversation here or read on for details. And a note of warning, this story contains content some people may find upsetting.
Interview Highlights
Most schools have active shooter drills, but specifics vary
Most states require drills related to active shooter situations, Schonfeld says, but how they're carried out varies between individual schools and communities.
The first step is to discuss the drill and make sure students understand what they're supposed to do, he adds. The next phase typically consists of drills or exercises in which students are asked to take action to minimize risk within their classrooms, like locking doors, turning off lights, closing blinds and moving to a less visible area.
Some schools go a step further with what Schonfeld calls high-intensity drills, or those that involve an element of simulation like an actor pretending to be a shooter or sound effects mimicking bullets. Schonfeld says we don't have enough experience to know which particular types of preparation may help the most, but experts do know that high-intensity drills are inevitably going to be upsetting to children and even teens and adults.
High-intensity drills can cause emotional distress
Some schools carry out these drills without informing children — or sometimes staff — that they aren't real, which Schonfeld says can be very realistic and distressing.
He recalls instances of children thinking they might die and scribbling notes to their parents in an effort to say goodbye.
"There was one report of a child who actually wrote with a marker on her body so that when her body was found she would be able to let her parents know that she loved them," he adds.
Such drills can be upsetting for children of any age, Schonfeld explains, as peoples' understanding of risk and skills for coping with distress evolve as they get older. For example, he said a 7-year-old may be capable of understanding what the drill is meant to try to prevent but may be less able to cope with their feelings, while a 17-year-old may have a greater sense of vulnerability and fear.
There are ways to make live drills less potentially damaging
Schonfeld emphasizes that it's important for children to be reasonably prepared to take action if something tragic were to happen, with the goal of helping students learn how they should be moving safely in a crisis situation.
He believes less-intense live drills can help accomplish that. And that's not a totally new phenomenon for most schools, he notes.
"We do fire drills in schools, and those are live drills where children exit schools and quietly," Schonfeld says. "There's no attempt at smoke to make it feel like a fire, there's no necessity to have people screaming in the hallways."
Preparations should involve more than just drills
More broadly, Schonfeld says school shootings are a complicated problem with more than one solution.
"We can't be putting all of our resources in just preparing kids for active shooters," he says. "What we need to do is put a lot of resources, perhaps much more resources, into preventing them in the first place."
That would entail more support for behavioral health in schools, and investment in social-emotional development in children more generally. Schonfeld says that could look like training students to be able to better identify distress among their peers and get them help.
"We have to invest our resources in prevention as well as in what to do when prevention isn't successful," he adds.
The digital version of this story originally appeared in the Morning Edition live blog.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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A typical meal (lunch or dinner) will be served on a banana leaf. As the staple diet is rice, steamed rice will be served along with a variety of vegetable dishes like sambar, dry curry, rasam and kootu. Meals are often accompanied by crisp appalams. After a final round of rice and curd or buttermilk or both, a meal is concluded with a small banana and a few betel leaves and nuts.
We have presented the site navigation on a banana leaf. Click on each to leaf through the pages. We hope you get the same good experience of a sumptuous South Indian meal when you finish browsing the site.
Enjoy preparing these authentic but simple recipes of our grandmothers.


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The United States says Afghanistan can have some of its money back. The U.S. says it found a way to ensure that Afghans benefit from their central bank funds while the country's Taliban rulers do not. Last year, you may recall, when the Taliban seized power, the U.S. froze billions of dollars' worth of assets belonging to the Afghan central bank. This was money the Afghans had deposited or invested in the United States. Neither the U.S. nor anybody else has recognized the Taliban. And the U.S. has ignored the calls to give the money to them. But a new fund is designed to help the people who face economic desperation. Thomas West is the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan. And he's on the line. Ambassador, welcome back to the program.
THOMAS WEST: Thank you very much for having me.
INSKEEP: What's the plan here?
WEST: So the purpose of this fund, which has been months in the works, is to preserve, protect and to make targeted disbursements of Afghan reserves to support the Afghan people, to support macroeconomic stability. We have been working with Swiss partners on this initiative closely. And we are really grateful to them for their support. This is going to make available to the Afghan people a large amount of money, really, that's for macroeconomic stability, so we can keep Afghanistan current on its arrears to international financial institutions. We can potentially keep them current on electricity payments, as well as other purposes.
INSKEEP: I'm just trying to think that through. When you say electricity payments, I know that Afghanistan gets some of its electricity from outside the country. You're saying that if they're having trouble paying those bills to keep the lights on, this money might be used to pay the bills and keep the lights on.
WEST: That's right. I have to say, the first option is going to continue to be to have the Afghan central bank, which is called the Afghanistan Bank, make those payments themselves. They have made some of those payments. There are courageous technocrats that remain in that institution. And we hope that we don't have to make payments from this foundation. But it is possible. And this is a new source for those purposes.
INSKEEP: Does the Taliban ever touch this money?
WEST: No.
INSKEEP: Which I gather would be important to you because the leader of al-Qaida was recently found in Kabul and hit by a drone strike. We were there. The NPR team actually was in Kabul at the time. And some were awoken by the strike. People will naturally ask if there is, nevertheless, some way the Taliban would benefit from the distribution of this money no matter what you do.
WEST: We're going to have an external auditor as part of this foundation, as part of this fund. And we will rigorously ensure that none of this money goes to the Taliban.
INSKEEP: I want to ask about the way the money is being used. You've indicated that it will go to help people. It appears it doesn't go to the central bank that is now overseen by the Taliban. That's an institution that's supposed to manage inflation. Now, we spoke the other day on the program with Shah Mehrabi, who is on the board of the central bank. He says inflation is out of control, that this hurts millions of people. He did recognize the administration is aiming for aid to people, but he added this. Let's listen.
SHAH MEHRABI: No increase in humanitarian aid can compensate for the macroeconomic harm of soaring prices for basic commodities. It could not fully compensate for the banking collapse or balance of payment crisis and other consequences that could ripple through the Afghan society and harm the most vulnerable people.
INSKEEP: Is he right, that you're leaving the central bank so weak that millions of people will be harmed far more than you can help them?
WEST: Steve, we have to deal in realities. And the fact is, when the Taliban forcefully took the country, many dozens of senior, capable technocrats left that central bank. And they hollowed out the institution. That is a body that no longer has a credible - what we call AML/CFT architecture in place - that's anti-money laundering and countering financial terrorism - controls in place. It's a body that doesn't have the kind of software and policies in place that we expect from any central bank in the world to be sure that we don't see money go to terrorists, go to criminals. And so we are pragmatic in this administration. I think it's in our interest to see a more capable central bank in place, one with independent monitoring in place. And so we're going to work on that basis.
INSKEEP: Can you at least imagine some future configuration of that central bank where it did feel independent of the Taliban rulers and you could deal with it like a normal central bank?
WEST: Right now, we're quite far off. I don't want to mislead you. We're not on the cusp of recapitalizing the Afghan central bank, of recapitalizing the financial system. I would want to have confidence to say to the American people that I am sure that if we were to proceed with even an iterative recapitalization of the financial system that none of that money would go to terrorists, would go to criminals. And today, I can't say that. But in time - is it possible? - yes, it's possible. But we're not there today.
INSKEEP: I want to ask about the rest of the money because some people will know that while $3.5 billion are being placed in this fund, there's an equivalent amount of money that's being held back by the Biden administration. The president is reserving that money for 9/11 families who sued for a share of it. And so some clearly want the money. Some other families have said they don't want the money. I've got a quote here, actually, from Kelly Campbell of an organization called 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows. Quote, "the idea that they are on the brink of famine and that we would be holding onto their money for any purpose is just wrong." Now that you have this fund to help the Afghan people, should you just put all the money there?
WEST: Steve, the scope of the humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan is truly dire. And the United States has done more than any country to answer that need. We have contributed $815 million in humanitarian aid. We have passed seven - what are called general licenses, which provide comfort to any organization, relief, or even a company that is seeking to meet the need. We have championed a U.N. Security Council resolution that provides for the flexibility of those organizations to meet the need.
So we will continue to try to erect a policy architecture that helps the Afghan people get the food they need, get the medicine they need and so forth. We've worked with international financial institutions, including the World Bank, to be sure that suspended assets in their systems go to meet basic services. But when it comes to assets, you talk to any economist, and they will say that foreign reserves need to be preserved for the conduct of monetary policy. And so that is what the suspended reserves will be used for.
INSKEEP: Ambassador, it's been a pleasure talking with you. Thanks for taking our questions.
WEST: Thank you, Steve.
INSKEEP: Tom West is the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.