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But it's true that Peoria itself (pop. 115,007) doesn't have a law school yet. This troubles Judge Shadid, who graduated from Bradley 33 years ago, and John Marshall Law School shortly after that, and who exhibits severe symptoms of Baby Boomer Delusion Syndrome. It also troubles Gary Roberts, dean of Indiana University-Indianapolis's law school, and another Bradley alum:
[Roberts] says the absence of a law school in Peoria means not just inconvenience for local would-be students, but added expense in that they have to pay room and board to study law. And whereas wage-earners in other, bigger cities can earn law degrees at night, that's impossible in Peoria.This brings to mind a headline from America's most trusted news source.
"There's this large lacuna in the middle of Illinois where people can't afford law school," Roberts says.Roberts says the study showed that U of I law grads tend to head to Chicago or out of state, often to seek high-paying jobs, to better pay off massive tuition loans. But if tuition were kept relatively low at a Peoria law school, grads would be less beholden to big loans and more apt to seek work hereabouts, Roberts says.
There's a large lacuna in the middle of Dean Roberts' analysis, namely any evidence that there are people ready, willing, and able to pay for legal services "hereabouts" who are having difficulty securing such services because of a shortage of lawyers in the greater Peoria metropolitan area. This hypothesis is implausible in the extreme.
Another gap in the data that needs filling is the answer to the question of how many people who live in or near Peoria aren't going to law school because, if there were a law school in Peoria, the savings produced by not having to pay for room and board would convince them to do so. Let's do a little math here. Approximately .1% of the US population lives within a 45-minute drive of downtown Peoria. Assume this population contains an average number of potential law students. This means about 45 people who live within commuting distance of our hypothetical law school enroll in all ABA law schools in America, combined, each year.
According to Roberts, the marginal value generated by Bradley's law school would be generated largely by the fact that it would allow people who live within a reasonable drive of Peoria, who currently aren't enrolling in law school because of cost considerations, to choose to enroll at a new law school in Peoria because they wouldn't have to pay room and board. (Of course these people still have to incur expenses for room and board -- what Roberts means is that they won't have to borrow money for these expenses because they will be gifted to them by long-suffering parents, or shorter-suffering domestic partners).
On average, how many people per year are going to fit this description? Three. (This is an estimate. It might be five). So the theory is that these three people per year who aren't going to law school now because of cost will go to this new law school where they won't have to pay living expenses, and will subsequently get jobs as lawyers in or near Peoria, thereby ameliorating the lawyer shortage in the Peoria area.
The other justification for starting yet another law school is that this school will burst the shackles of Langdellian pedagogy, by sending its third year class off into the world of legal practice:
Instead of taking classes during the third and last year, students would be placed in legal settings - with private attorneys, with county prosecutors and public defenders, or with corporations' legal teams - to assist on real cases.I'm no expert but I suspect it's illegal for students to work for private attorneys or corporations for free, and that it violates ABA rules to give academic credit for paid work. Beyond that, this innovative idea is of course merely a more elaborate version of the growing trend all across legal academia to turn the third year into an outsourced apprenticeship while still collecting another year of tuition.
Now for whatever reason I'm feeling optimistic this morning, and I doubt this proposed law school is actually going to come into being. What's interesting to me are the motivations of people like Shadid and Roberts. They don't appear to be in any position to profit from this school, at least in any pecuniary sense. (Indeed as a dean at competing law school Roberts' straightforward economic interest, however tenuous, would be to oppose this project).
Rather I suspect their motivations are more benign, which in a sense makes those motivations more dangerous. What's going on here, I think, is that these Bradley alums want their alma mater to benefit from the "prestige" of having a law school. The benefits they would get from this project are psychic, which makes it easier for them to interpret their own motivations as genuinely altruistic. They really believe they would be doing their university and its surrounding community a service by starting a law school.
This idea, which to those of us who have passed over to the other side of this implicit debate is obviously insane on its face, seems to them eminently sensible. After all, look how well things have worked out for them personally. In other words, they really believe their own propaganda, which is the mark of a fully internalized ideology. And people like that are way more dangerous than self-conscious scam artists, because they have moral righteousness on their side.


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We love free icons. Don't we? So for all the icon lovers out there, here is a brand new release of 400 Hand Drawn Icons that are free to use in your personal and commercial projects.
The Icon Set has been provided by Freepik.com exclusively for the readers of Blog Oh! Blog.
The set consists of icons for general settings, app design, social websites and much more.
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The 400 icons are provided in SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) format and can be easily used on any website. Why use SVG format, you ask? Because of the following reasons :-
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subset: commoncrawl


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WEIGHT: 60 kg
Bust: Small
Overnight: +50$
Services: Striptease pro, BDSM, Lesbi-show soft, Slave, Deep Throat
The capital and largest city in Estonia with a population of around , people, Tallinn is a popular tourist destination. Each year more than 4. Tallinn offers a unique blend of picturesque old town beauty with hedonistic modern city nightlife, all at reasonable prices. The capital can offer a variety of entertainment to suit everyone. In this guide, we take a look at the sex scene in Tallinn including adult entertainment venues such as sex cinemas, strip clubs and BDSM dungeons.
Prostitution in Estonia was decriminalised following an end to the Soviet rule in As a result, it is not a criminal offense to sell or buy sex in Tallinn. However, all aspects of organised prostitution are illegal which means that brothels, pimping or earning money from the sexual activities of another in any way are prohibited by law. For a capital city that is small by European standards, Tallinn is pretty well served by a sizeable escort population.
Though there are no official figures, it is estimated that there could be more than 4, sex workers in Tallinn. There are various classified directories and websites offering escort services for every taste, but due to their dubious legal status, we cannot publish links to them on this site. Tallinn is a small city by the standards of many European capitals and it is uniquely divided into two areas; old town and the modern city. There are thought to be around 20 of these in Tallinn, each with around women working in.
Estonia is known more for swinging of another sort and if you Google this activity then you may well be disappointed! Known as kiiking across Baltic Europe, it has become something of a cultural phenomenon and national sport.
If you are looking for libertine clubs and places to wife swap then Tallinn does, however, have a few options. Mixed couples and single women are welcome. A sauna club at its heart, you can find Turkish baths, Finnish steam rooms and a pool. There is also a bar, disco and lounges plus dry play areas. Image via website. Operating more as a gay club than a swingers venue, the Bi-Sex club also hosts a weekly swinging event on a Friday evening when single women and mixed-sex couples will feel more at home.


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Dyslexia Center to offer classes, help for San Clemente families
Students with dyslexia will be offered dyslexia help, tutoring, and resources at a new treatment center that has opened in San Clemente, California.
PRIDE Learning Center, an Orton-Gillingham reading clinic for students of all ages struggling with dyslexia and other reading disabilities, will offer specialized 1:1 remediation and support services. The dyslexia program will be the first comprehensive reading and writing center of its kind in San Clemente.
"Our programs have impacted the lives of so many individuals," says Karina Richland, owner of PRIDE Learning Centers. "So many children come to us as non-readers struggling and frustrated with their dyslexia," states Richland, "we are able to teach them how to read and help them appreciate and understand that their dyslexia is not necessarily a negative thing."
The tutors at PRIDE Learning Center are credentialed teachers with Orton-Gillingham certification and strong backgrounds in Special Education. The learning center will also host parent workshops and professional speakers throughout the year.
"We are extremely excited to continue our mission of helping the families in our communities by providing these desperately needed services to the twenty percent of individuals affected by dyslexia," commented Karina Richland. "Despite massive school reforms in special education, we still have large numbers of children that are not reading at grade level," reports Richland. "Through our on-site programs as well as our professional workshops and contracts with various school districts, we know that we can make a difference for so many children who struggle with reading and writing."
The San Clemente dyslexia center officially opened its doors September 17th. The center is located at 665 Camino De Los Mares 204B, in the medical buildings across from the Saddleback Memorial Hospital.
For more information, contact PRIDE Learning Center 866-774-3342 or go to www.pridelearningcenter.com


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Cinnamon Streusel Pancakes
Published on January 17, 2011
The Ultimate Cinnamon Pancakes – double filled cinnamon streusel pancakes! This copycat "Recess Time" pancake from the famous The Griddle Cafe in L.A. as close as I could get to the real thing, and I have to say, it was pretty awesome! Perfect for a special occasion breakfast.
Live and Love in L.A. with Cinnamon Pancakes
When we went to California in November, we spent a day eating our way through Los Angeles with our good friend, Amanda, from Kevin and Amanda. Amanda had a long list of food places for us to try. We started our food feast at The Griddle Cafe in Hollywood. Amanda recommended the "Recess Time" pancake, which is a double-filled cinnamon streusel pancake. We took her advice and ordered the pancake and I am so glad we did! It is the BEST pancake I have ever tasted in my life. Josh and I recently recreated our favorite cinnamon streusel pancakes at home and we are sharing the recipe today.
Giant Double Streusel Cinnamon Pankcakes
The pancakes at The Griddle Cafe are humongous! They are as big as the plate and stacked three pancakes high. Luckily, they will let you order a single pancake-which was big enough to feed all three of us. Ok, so maybe we ordered French Toast too, but we were on vacation, we had to splurge:) The pancakes are served with a big scoop of whipped butter and pure maple syrup. The cinnamon streusel provides a nice, sweet crust on top of the pancake. These pancakes are out of this world!
How We Replicated "Recess Time" Pancakes
We were determined to recreate our favorite pancakes at home so one morning we put our game faces on and got to work.
- We started with a light and fluffy buttermilk pancake recipe.
- We also mixed up a bowl of cinnamon streusel.
- We made large pancakes, maybe not quite as big as The Griddle Cafe's, but plenty big if you ask me!
- We added a sprinkle of cinnamon streusel to the first side of the pancake.
- After we flipped the pancakes, we loaded on the cinnamon streusel and I mean loaded.
- The final side of the pancake needs to be heaping with cinnamon streusel. While it is heating up the cinnamon streusel will slightly harden, creating a crispy sweet crust.
- Josh let a big scoop of butter melt all over the pancake, making the pancake even more decadent.
Cinnamon Pancakes Success
We both tasted the pancake and looked at each other. We both smiled and started nodding. We nailed the recipe. Our cinnamon streusel pancakes tasted just like the "Recess Time" pancake we devoured at The Griddle Cafe in L.A. We were so happy we recreated one of our favorite recipes! Now, we can eat cinnamon streusel pancakes without leaving our home. Breakfast is so much better in your pj's.
A Special Occasion Pankcake
I will warn you these pancakes are insanely sweet. We said they were a once of year kind of treat, but Josh is already asking for them again:) We will see how long that rule lasts:) Make them for a special occasion or when you are in a sugary mood. These cinnamon streusel pancakes are hands down our favorite breakfast treat.
To see what else we ate in L.A, check out Amanda's post. We had SO much fun. Thanks, Amanda for being our fabulous tour guide. And if you are ever in L.A, I highly recommend you visit The Griddle Cafe. It will knock your socks off!
Cinnamon Streusel Pancakes
For the pancakes:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup canola oil or vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cinnamon Streusel:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter cut into chunks
- First, make the cinnamon streusel. In a medium bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter. Mix together with your hands or a fork, until you have a crumbly mixture. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, oil, and vanilla. Add wet ingredients to the flour mixture and stir just until combined. Do not over mix, batter will be slightly lumpy.
- Heat a griddle or pan to medium low. Coat with cooking spray. Drop 1 cup of batter onto heated skillet. Add 2 tablespoons of the cinnamon streusel. Cook on the first side until bubbles begin to form, about 2-3 minutes. Carefully flip pancake over and cover very generously with cinnamon streusel. Cook for another 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Continue this process to make the rest of the pancakes.
- Serve warm with maple syrup and butter.
Have you tried this recipe?
Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram. Tag @twopeasandpod and hashtag it with #twopeasandtheirpod
If you like these Cinnamon Streusel Pancakes, you might also like:
Pumpkin Pancakes with Cinnamon Syrup from Two Peas and Their PodChocolate and Cinnamon Pancakes from Baking BitesCinnamon Roll Pancakes from Big Red KitchenWhole Wheat Cinnamon Pancakes from In Good Taste


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United Arab Emirates-based OneGram is issuing a gold-backed cryptocurrency in attempts to convince Muslims that investing in cryptocurrencies complies with their faith.
Islam and Cryptocurrency
The growing global interest in cryptocurrencies naturally extends into the Gulf and southeast Asia, the main centers of Islamic finance. But because cryptocurrencies and associated technologies are products of financial engineering and objects of speculation, the coins don't fit particularly well with the religion. This is because Sharia principles, in addition to not permitting interest payments, emphasize real economic activity based on physical assets, not speculation.
In attempts to sway the debate, cryptocurrency startups are looking to launch instruments backed by physical assets and thereby certified as valid by Islamic advisors. Case in point: in order to attempt to limit speculation, each OneGram cryptocurrency unit is backed by at least a gram of physical gold stored in a vault.
"Gold was among the first forms of money in Islamic societies so this is appropriate," said Ibrahim Mohammed, who founded the firm with other investors last year. "We are trying to prove rules and regulations from Sharia are fully compatible with digital blockchain technology."
So far, tens of millions of dollars worth of the coins have been issued (about 60% of the total planned amount). OneGram hopes to issue all of them before an exchange listing that's planned for the end of May. The company obtained a ruling that its cryptocurrency conforms with Islamic principles from Dubai-based Al Maali Consulting, which is one of dozens of advisory firms around the world that offer opinions on whether financial instruments meet Sharia standards.
OneGram isn't the first startup to take this approach. In Malaysia, HelloGold launched an initial offer of its gold-backed cryptocurrency in October, after receiving approval from Islamic scholars at Kuala Lumpur-based Amanie Advisors.
Manuel Ho, HelloGold's chief marketing officer, said its coin conforms with Islamic principles because transactions occur within a defined period, making them less volatile and addressing the issue of ambiguity of pricing. There are others, too: United Arab Emirates-based Halal Chain conducted an ICO in December. Halal Chain's price is linked not to gold, but to data on Islamically permissible goods.
Sharia Law Globally
National Sharia authorities have not ruled on whether cryptocurrencies are permissible, and while several global bodies recommend standards for Islamic finance, none has the authority to actually impose them. Many governments seem ambivalent: worried about the potential for instability, but unwilling to lose the chance of benefiting from new technology.
The Saudi Arabian and UAE central banks warned their citizens about the risks of trading Bitcoin, but have not imposed outright bans. Islamic jurists in South Africa have ruled in favor of cryptocurrencies, arguing they have become socially acceptable and commonly used.
In October, however, the Durban-based Darul Ihsan Centre refrained from endorsing them, citing concern over potential pyramid schemes. Further, some scholars in Turkey, India, and Britain have labeled cryptocurrencies impermissible. In January, Egypt's Grand Mufti declared they should not be traded.
What makes the debate particularly complex is that there are thousands of digital coins each with unique features related to distribution, mining, and trading, said Farrukh Habib, research officer at Malaysia-based International Shariah Research Academy for Islamic Finance. Because of this fact, Habib believes that a "blanket" Sharia ruling on cryptocurrencies is not appropriate:
"They are also very different in terms of their underlying commodities, projects or businesses, so it's not appropriate to have a blanket Sharia ruling for all," said Habib. "Most of the existing Sharia rulings either deal with only Bitcoin, or include all types of cryptocurrencies, disregarding their peculiarities."


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Whistler Alternative
When visiting Whistler, consider staying at Pemberton Valley Lodge. We offer several advantages over Whistler hotels…
1 Only 20 minutes
You can get to the Village faster from our Lodge than you can from some parts of Whistler Resort.
2 Save money
Whistler hotels typically charge for parking. We don't. And you get bigger rooms for your dollar.
3 Great Perks
Get complimentary super fast WiFi, complimentary bike rentals, and optional keyless room entry!


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Each refillable discbound journal is made from the highest quality components – from the solid metal discs, to the full-grain leather, to the perfect paper stock. The discbound system is made of 8 modular discs that allow paper to be freely added, removed, and reorganized. The leather covers will wear in beautifully over time and can be endlessly refilled with additional paper packs. This journal is something you'll be holding onto for life.
- Full-grain Wickett & Craig leather covers
- Refillable discbound system
- Solid brass / stainless steel discs
- Lays completely flat
- Page dimensions: 6" x 8.5"
- 120 dot grid pages
- 70# smooth white paper
- Made in USA
*Please note: Since leather is a natural material each piece will have slight variations and markings.
Shipping & Returns
All orders are shipped by our team directly from our HQ in Downingtown, PA, USA.
Shipping cost is based on weight. Just add products to your cart and use the Shipping Calculator to see the shipping price.
For international orders (outside of the USA) we do not prepay customs fees or import taxes, so you may be need to pay these when your package arrives depending on how your country handles it.
We want you to be 100% satisfied with your Ugmonk purchase. Items can be returned or exchanged within 30 days of delivery.
Any items returned used or not in the original condition will be subject to a 15% restocking fee.


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For Any Cancer Diagnosis
I have been receiving chemotherapy treatments for the past six months and my memory is not as good as it used to be. Is this because of the chemo?
A.During chemotherapy treatments, you may notice memory or thinking changes, sometimes referred to as chemobrain. Chemobrain affects your cognitive or thinking abilities including: memory, attention, concentration, word finding or retrieval, multi-tasking, learning, and sense of direction. Researchers are not certain of the exact causes of these difficulties, but they are currently studying this problem in order to find ways to both treat and prevent it.
There are a number of treatable conditions that can affect memory, such as low blood counts, hormonal changes, stress, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, and anxiety. Some of your medications could also be affecting your ability to think clearly.
It is important for you to talk with your doctor if you are having trouble with your memory. Your health care team can be very helpful to you in figuring out ways to manage your memory and thinking changes related to chemotherapy. Bring a list of your questions to your doctor, take notes, and ask permission to record your visit. If possible, bring someone with you. Get a second opinion if your doctor doesn't take your concerns seriously.
Memory tools can help to boost your memory. Write things down in a planner, pick one spot to keep your keys and wallet, place reminders around your home and work space of tasks you need to do, and recognize the importance of nutrition, exercise and sleep.
CancerCare offers the following fact sheets addressing chemobrain:
- Cognitive Problems After Chemotherapy
- Coping With Chemobrain: Keeping Your Memory Sharp
- Improving Your Concentration: Three Key Steps
Remember that you are not alone. Work with your health care team to address your memory changes, join a support group, learn more about chemobrain through our educational workshop, Chemobrain: The Impact of Cancer Treatments on Memory, Thinking and Attention, and most importantly be kind to yourself.
For Breast Cancer
Since being diagnosed with breast cancer, I can't seem to keep on top of things like I used to and it seems like I'm in a fog. I've mentioned this to my doctor but I think his focus is more on my treatment and less on my concerns. Anything I can say to make him listen?
A.After being diagnosed with cancer, many women report having trouble finding words and remembering things. Be persistent in communicating with your doctor about what you are experiencing. Here are some tips that may help you:
- Request a time to speak with your doctor to focus on your specific concerns
- Express how these concerns are affecting you and your quality of life
- Be specific and give examples
- Use statements such as, "I need your help understanding this" and "Do you have any suggestions on what I can do?"
For more tips read our publications, Communicating With Your Health Care Team and "Doctor Can We Talk?"
It's also possible that you may be experiencing side effects from chemotherapy. This is sometimes referred to as "chemobrain," a condition that affects your short-term memory. You may consider getting evaluated by a neuropsychologist (an expert trained in how the nervous system, especially the brain, controls mental functions such as language, memory, and perception) who can assess any cognitive changes and suggest mental exercises to improve memory and thinking. Chemobrain usually lessens over time once treatment has ended.
A few steps you can take now to improve your memory:
- Keep a notebook or day planner where you can write down things you need to remember
- Keep the notebook in a specific place so you can find it when you need to
- Use Post-it notes to place reminders in your home, office or other spaces
To learn more about chemobrain, read CancerCare's fact sheets:


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Hard-to-Recycle Items
There are several items that we can't take in our recycling program, but we don't want to see them end up in the landfill either. Many of these items can be taken to special recycling locations, or reused by local businesses.
- Ink Jet and Laser Printer Cartridges: Office Depot, Staples, and Office Max take back used cartridges and offer rewards points for recycling.
- CDs and DVDs: Did you know CDs and DVDs are recyclable? Discs are shredded and recycled into a number of new products, often as automotive or construction materials. Even motorcycle helmets!
- Plastic Bags: In a landfill, plastic bags take up to 1,000 years to degrade. As litter, they breakdown into tiny bits, contaminating our soil and water. Luckily, several grocery stores in our area recycle plastic bags, including Safeway, Food Maxx, and Winco.
Business Recycling Tips
Tips to Prevent Waste and Save Money
- Inform employees and tenants. Provide information on an ongoing basis about your recycling and yard waste programs – e-mail, meetings, newsletters, and sorting guides.
- Place signage near every container – kitchens, bathrooms, common areas.
- Place a blue recycling container beside every desk, workstation, copier, printer and garbage can.
- Designate a recycling coordinator or leader to be in charge of your recycling programs.
- Make the most out of your paper. Purchase printers that allow double sided printing, or use the other side of paper for your copy and note paper. Purchase recycled paper.
- Use washable mugs instead of paper or Styrofoam cups, and use drinking glasses for tap water or water delivered in large bottles.
- Invest in washable cloth dish towels and napkins, reusable plates, bowls and utensils.
- Packing Materials: Shred or bunch up old paper or catalogues to use as packing material. Ask your vendors to avoid using excessive packaging, and reuse packaging materials whenever possible.
- Opt out of unwanted printed mailing lists: stopjunkmail.org, www.41pounds.org, www.CatalogChoice.org
- Invest in rechargeable batteries and battery chargers for digital cameras, flashlights, and other small devices. Designate a space for proper battery disposal.


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Unblocking the antibiotics pipeline
We're heading towards an antibiotics crisis, but drug resistance is just part of the problem, writes Bianca Nogrady.
The time has come for a major rethink on antibiotics believes Monash University researcher Professor Jian Li.
"People think you can throw antibiotics in the system or in the patient and it will kill the bacterial cells, but actually there are two major factors we have to consider," says Li, senior research fellow with the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.
"The first one is, we need to understand how the antibiotic kills bacterial cells and how bacterial cells can develop resistance, and another important factor is we have to make sure that antibiotics reach the infection site at the right time and with the right concentrations."
Li and many others researchers like him are taking a much closer look at how antibiotics work, how bacteria develop resistance to them, and how we can be smarter in using the antibiotics that already exist.
To that end, Li and colleagues are investigating an early type of antibiotic called polymixin, that was abandoned in the 1970s because of its kidney toxicity.
Their research, funded by the US National Institutes of Health, explores how polymixins work in the body and how bacteria respond to them, with the goal of making polymixins not only safer, but also more effective.
But their quest to resurrect a last-line drug such as polymixin is a sign of how dire the fight against antibiotic resistance has become.
Bacteria, antibiotics and resistanceThe term 'antibiotic' refers to any substance that kills or stops the growth of micro-organisms such as bacteria.
Most antibiotics are based on naturally-occurring chemicals made by other organisms as defence mechanisms against bacteria.
Antibiotics work by interfering with either the essential mechanisms of bacterial reproduction, such as DNA replication, or with other vital cell functions such as building and maintaining cell walls, or translating DNA into proteins.
The antibiotics we use only disrupt cell processes that are unique to bacteria. Many antibiotics, including penicillin, disrupt the building or structure of bacterial cell walls. Because animal cells don't have cell walls, our cells are unaffected by these antibiotics.
Resistance is a normal evolutionary process. It develops when a random mutation allows a bacterial cell to survive antibiotic attack but eliminates its competitors. That bacterium then replicates, leading to a population of resistant organisms. Importantly, bacterial resistance is spread between unrelated bacterial cells when DNA containing the gene that gives resistance is transferred from one cell to another.
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is nothing new. Bacteria have been evolving mechanisms to deal with chemical attack since long before humans even existed, and resistance genes similar to those found today have been discovered in 30,000-year old preserved mammoths.
But, according to the World Health Organization, antibiotic resistance now poses a major threat to global health.
Our overuse and misuse of antibiotics have created a perfect storm of natural selection, driving a type of bacteria known as gram-negative bacteria to adapt furiously.
This means that for some diseases, in particular tuberculosis, bacteria are becoming resistant to multiple antibiotics, leaving doctors with dwindling choices for treating infections.
In some worst-case scenarios, which are mainly occurring in parts of the world where medical infrastructure is not as robust such as south-east Asia, India and Eastern Bloc countries, individuals are dying from total treatment failure because their infection is resistant to every antibiotic that is thrown at it.
Australia has escaped the worst of antibiotic resistance, although Associate Professor Tom Gottlieb says we are not immune.
"Every hospital and every infectious diseases specialist sees one or two people coming in with different varieties of resistant organisms," says Gottlieb, a specialist in infectious diseases and microbiology at Sydney's Concord Hospital, and president of Australian Society for Antimicrobials.
"Some are locally acquired in the community, some are patients in nursing homes which have a higher percentage of these, and some — particularly the more resistant strains — are coming from people who've travelled overseas."
But resistance is just one part of the problem.
Fewer drugs in production
The second reason there is such a crisis in antibiotics is no one is interested in making them any more because they don't pay their way like drugs developed for chronic health conditions, says Professor Matthew Cooper from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland.
"The net present value for antibiotics is normally negative or occasionally marginally positive, and the reason is the research and development costs are the same as for a normal drug however they are not chronic use drugs," says Cooper.
Someone prescribed a cholesterol-lowering drug or a drug for high blood pressure is likely to take that drug for a long time — possibly the rest of their life — so there is far more opportunity for a pharmaceutical company to recoup the considerable costs invested in developing and bringing those drugs to market.
In contrast, when someone is treated for a bacterial infection, such as a urinary tract infection or wound infection, typically they are prescribed one, maybe two courses of an antibiotic, then the infection is cured and they have no reason to continue buying the drug.
"There have only been four new classes of antibiotics [developed] in the last 40 years compared with at least ten a year [between 1950 and 1970]," says Cooper. "More disturbing, the number of large pharmaceutical companies active in this space has dropped from 18 in 1990 to four today."
Had antibiotic development continued apace, or had resistance remained at 'normal' levels, there would be no antibiotics crisis. Unfortunately, with these situations coinciding, Gottlieb says doctors are considering the possibility that we may soon run out of new drugs to treat old infections.
"There might be a 20- to 30-year period within which we will be hoping that new things will come onto the market but they may or they may not,"
"I see a window period where we might be in trouble but hopefully that window period is shorter rather than longer."
Infection control and surveillance
The solution to this crisis is neither simple, nor cheap, says Professor Tania Sorrell, director of the Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity at the University of Sydney.
Sorrel says there are three levels at which the problem of antibiotic availability needs to be addressed.
"If resistance is there we can do a lot to control its spread simply by using appropriate infection control and educating, or at least having a dialogue with, the public and the profession and prescribers of these drugs to make sure that they are used appropriately," she says.
The second level of action for Australia is surveillance because, despite having so far avoided the worst of antibiotic resistance, geographic borders offer little protection.
"Australians love to travel and we have significant immigration or visitors coming from some of the countries where there is a very high level of resistance, so it's quite easy for us to acquire resistant organisms when we're overseas and so import them into Australia," Sorrell says.
"We can improve our ability to identify problems earlier by undertaking surveillance of microorganisms for their antimicrobial susceptibility or resistance patterns, and when the problem pops up, as it inevitably will, be sure that it's dealt with quickly."
Taking medicines wiselyResearch has found taking just one course of antibiotics can contribute to resistance, says Dr Philippa Binns clinical advisor at NPS MedicineWise.
In one UK study, researchers followed a group of young children given a single course of antibiotics for a common childhood bacterial infection (middle ear or respiratory infection). Initially one third of the children were found to have bacteria with an antibiotic resistant gene, but two weeks later those children given antibiotics were twice as likely to have 'antibiotic resistant' bacteria compared to those not prescribed antibiotics.
"In another Australian study, children who had antibiotics in the previous two months were twice as likely to carry a penicillin-resistant respiratory tract bacteria. And what that means is that if that child had another infection in that two month period then the antibiotic wouldn't have worked for them," she says.
Visit ABC Health & Wellbeing to find out what steps you can take to reduce antibiotic resistance.
—Claudine Ryan
Incentives for drug development
Sorrell says the third approach is an economic one, namely that pharmaceutical companies need to be given the incentives to get back into the antibiotics game.
Professor Jon Iredell, director of infectious diseases at Sydney's Westmead Hospital, says the problem is that we have relied on a private industry model for bringing antibiotics to market, because it costs so much to do this level of research and development and there is no guarantee of success at the end.
A few alternatives to this model have been proposed, such as government taking on some of the burden of early development costs, or increasing the price of antibiotics, which might have the added benefit of restricting their use. Another approach is to improve the patent conditions for these drugs.
"One of the problems with marketing an antibiotic is the paradox is that if it's really good we want to save it so we restrict it so you can't sell the damn thing," says Iredell, professor at the Sydney Medical School and the Westmead Millennium Institute.
"Usually we restrict it for most of the life of the patent and then when the patent's about to wear off we've usually got to the point where it's no longer the last resort and we're a bit more prepared to let people use it, but the great paradox is that the poor guys who develop it can't make any money out of it."
Iredell suggests that as antibiotic resistance is essentially an ecological problem, it needs ecological solutions. Research momentum is building around non-antibiotic treatments, such as using naturally-occuring bacteria-killing viruses and parasites, to treat bacterial infections.
"This process is the way nature works: if you've got prey you've got predators, and bacteria have predators," he says. This has already been used to treat recalcitrant bacterial infections.
"The viruses are normally present in nature anyway and wax and wane according to food supply so as long as the bacteria are there, the viruses continue to multiple and when they've eaten everything they disappear."
Another approach being considered is a form of gene therapy that removes the resistance genes from bacteria, leaving them once again vulnerable to antibiotic attack.
Ultimately, Iredell says we can't continue to simply follow the same course we have so far. We need to think smarter.
Published 02 May 2014


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History of the Dead Three is a book about how Bhaal, Bane and Myrkul became gods and how Jergal lost his own divinity.
They are the "Dead Three" because they were killed during the Time of Troubles after their rebellion against the overlord Ao. Bhaal was slain by Cyric, Myrkul was defeated by Midnight (who became the new incarnation of Mystra) and Bane fell by the hand of Torm.
The book may be given as one of the rewards for the A Book for Firebead quest and serves the purpose of foreshadowing the true heritage of Gorion's Ward.
" | History of the Dead Three: "KNUCKLEBONES, SKULL BOWLING, AND THE EMPTY THRONE" In ages past there was but one god of strife, death, and the dead, and he was known as Jergal, Lord of the End of Everything. Jergal fomented and fed on the discord among mortals and powers alike. When beings slew each other in their quest for power or in their hatred, he welcomed them into his shadowy kingdom of eternal gloom. As all things died, everything came to him eventually, and over time he built his power into a kingdom unchallenged by any other god. Eventually, however, he grew tired of his duties for he knew them too well. Without challenge there is nothing, and in nothingness there is only gloom. In such a state, the difference between absolute power and absolute powerlessness is undetectable. During this dark era, there arose three powerful mortals - Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul - who lusted after the power Jergal wielded. The trio forged an unholy pact, agreeing that they would dare to seek such ultimate power or die in the attempt. Over the length and breadth of the Realms they strode, seeking powerful magic and spells and defying death at every turn. No matter what monster they confronted or what spells they braved, the three mortals emerged unscathed at every turn. Eventually the trio destroyed one of the Seven Lost Gods, and they each seized a portion of his divine essence for themselves. The trio then journeyed into the Gray Waste and sought out the Castle of Bone. Through armies of skeletons, legions of zombies, hordes of noncorporeal undead, and a gauntlet of liches they battled. Eventually they reached the object of their lifelong quest - the Bone Throne. "I claim this throne of evil," shouted Bane the tyrant. "I'll destroy you before you can raise a finger," threatened Bhaal the assassin. "And I shall imprison your essence for eternity," promised Myrkul the necromancer. Jergal arose from his throne with a weary expression and said, " The Throne is yours. I have grown weary of this empty power. Take it if you wish - I promise to serve and guide you as your seneschal until you grow comfortable with the position." Before the stunned trio could react, the Lord of the Dead continued: "Who among you shall rule?" The trio immediately fell to fighting amongst themselves while Jergal looked on with indifference. When eventually it appeared that either they would all die of exhaustion or battle on for an eternity, the Lord of the End of Everything intervened. "After all you have sacrificed, would you come away with nothing? Why don't you divide the portfolios of the office and engage in a game of skill for them?" asked Jergal. Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul considered the god's offer and agreed. Jergal took the heads of his three most powerful liches and gave them to the trio that they would compete by bowling the skulls. Each mortal rolled a skull across the Gray Waste, having agreed that the winner would be he who bowled the farthest. Malar the Beastlord arrived to visit Jergal at this moment. After quickly ascertaining that the winner of the contest would get all of Jergal's power, he chased off after the three skulls to make sure that the contest would be halted until he had a chance to participate for part of the prize. Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul again fell to fighting as it was obvious their sport was ruined, and again Jergal intervened. "Why don't you allow Lady Luck to decide so you don't have to share with the Beast?" The trio agreed, and Jergal broke off his skeletal finger bones and gave them to the players. When Malar returned from chasing the skulls, he found that the trio had just finished a game of knucklebones. Bane cried out triumphantly, "As winner, I choose to rule for all eternity as the ultimate tyrant. I can induce hatred and strife at my whim, and all will bow down before me while in my kingdom." Myrkul, who had won second place, declared, "But I choose the dead, and by doing so I truly win, because all you are lord over, Bane, will eventually be mine. All things must die - even gods." Bhaal, who finished third, demurred, "I choose death, and it is by my hand that all that you rule Lord Bane will eventually pass to Lord Myrkul. Both of you must pay honor to me and obey my wishes, since I can destroy your kingdom, Bane, by murdering your subjects, and I can starve your kingdom, Myrkul, by staying my hand." Malar growled in frustration but could do nothing, and yet again only the beasts were left for him. And Jergal merely smiled, for he had been delivered. |
" |
Baldur's Gate[]
- Baldur's Gate
- Entillis Fulsom (South Baldur's Gate)
- Ghorak's Home (second floor)
- Ramazith's Tower (sixth floor)
- Three Old Kegs (third floor)
- Beregost
- Firebead Elvenhair (as a potential quest reward - Firebead's Home)
- Candlekeep
- Candlekeep Library (second floor)
- Gullykin
- Generic Home 3 (basement)
Baldur's Gate EE[]
- Cloud Peaks
- Dark Moon Temple


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There are many headlines about how housing affordability is declining. The headlines are correct: it's less affordable to purchase a home today than it was a year ago. However, it's important to give this trend context. Is it less expensive to buy a house today than it was in 2005? What about 1995? What happens if we go all the way back to 1985? Or even 1975?
Obviously, the price of a home has appreciated dramatically over the last 45 years. So have the prices of milk, bread, and just about every other consumable. Prices rise over time – we know it as inflation.
However, when we look at housing, price is just one component that makes up the monthly cost of the home. Another key factor is the mortgage rate at the time of purchase.
Let's look back at the cost of a home over the last five decades and adjust it for inflation by converting that cost to 2021 dollars. Here's the methodology for each data point of the table below:
- Mortgage Amount: Take the median sales price at the end of the second quarter of each year as reported by the Fed and assume that the buyer made a 10% down payment.
- Mortgage Rate: Look at the monthly 30-year fixed rate for June of that year as reported by Freddie Mac.
- P&I: Use a mortgage calculator to determine the monthly principal and interest on the loan.
- In 2021 Dollars: Use an inflation calculator to determine what each payment would be when adjusted for inflation. Green means the homes were less expensive than today. Red means they were more expensive.
As the chart shows, when adjusted for inflation, there were only two times in the last 45 years that it was less expensive to own a home than it is today.
- Last year: Prices saw strong appreciation over the last year and mortgage rates have remained relatively flat. Therefore, affordability weakened.
- 2010: Home values plummeted after the housing crash 15 years ago. One-third of all sales were distressed properties (foreclosures or short sales). They sold at major discounts and negatively impacted the value of surrounding homes – of course homes were more affordable then.
At every other point, even in 1975, it was more expensive to buy a home than it is today.
Bottom Line
If you want to buy a home, don't let the headlines about affordability discourage you. You can't get the deal your friend got last year, but you will get a better deal than your parents did 20 years ago and your grandparents did 40 years ago.


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A controlled Study of Postoperative Radiotherapy for Patients with Completey Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma
Reviewers: John Han-Chih Chang, MD
Source: Cancer 1999 Jul 15; Volume 86(Number 2): pages 265 - 273
Overall, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLCa) comprises about 85% of the 171,000 newly diagnosed lung cancers each year. The rate of long-term survival has improved minimally over the past several years from 12% to 13 - 14%. Operable patients undergoing a complete surgical resection (CSR) have a long-term survival rate of nearly 30% - 40%. This is even higher in CSR patients with stage I - II disease (55% - 70%). Whether any treatment added adjuvantly in the postoperative setting improves this prognosis is the question. . Many nonrandomized trials have demonstrated the benefits of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) for high-risk completely resected NSCLCa patients. However, a phase III randomized trial from Belgium (1) utilizing PORT for completely resected stage I NSCLCa demonstrated improved local control (LC), but decreased survival, likely related to treatment toxicity. The Lung Cancer Study Group 773 (2) randomized stage II and III squamous cell lung cancer patients post resection to PORT or no further adjuvant therapy. Five-year overall survival was similar (38% - 40%), but significantly improved LC was observed (60% for the no adjuvant therapy arm versus 97% for the PORT arm). A meta-analysis published recently in the Lancet (3) has cast doubt on the value of PORT for NSCLCa after complete resection. This article was one of the studies utilized in this meta analysis to counter PORT's utility.
Results suggest that PORT has a detrimental effect on NSCLCa patients. However, there is a very high proportion of patients with stage I - II disease, in which it has been shown that PORT can actually cause more toxicity than benefit. Including these patients, in whom we have extensive knowledge of the poor outcome with PORT, may bias the results in favor of no PORT. Of the patients included in this trial, only those with mediastinal disease (N2) were likely to have benefited from PORT. In fact, PORT did improve the distant and local recurrence and cancer related death rates in the N2 patients. This did not manifest itself in an improvement in survival because of the high 5-year intercurrent death rate with PORT (31% mostly treatment related). This may be associated with suboptimal radiotherapy technique as described in the article.This trial supports no PORT for completely resected NSCLCa. However, certain subsets of these patients may benefit. Whether PDRT may improve outcome for stage IIIA (N2 disease) or IIIB (T4 or N3 disease) patients who are completely resected remains a question. There have been subgroup analyses and retrospective reports supporting this.


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This course consists of three linked modules. In first module "Effective GPS application model" we review and determine the success assumptions for effective GPS application in science education. In the next module "Android App for GPS" you will gather the necessary skills to GPS-based research and learning using Android App "GPS Essentials". It also introduces the meter apps. By combining GPS and meter apps data you will get efficient data collection and analysis. In the final module we introduce the teaching scenarios and pedagogical aspects. At the end of the course participants are invited to share the GPS application of science education experiences.
- Teacher: Norbertas Airošius
- This online course helps teachers to use Virtual Science hub, with is a part of GLOBAL excursion project.
- The course gives an overview of Virtual Science hub and how to use its resources as how to register, how to make a trip, flash card, virtual tour, questionnaires, how to use MashMe video conferencing and also presents the capabilities of Virtual Science hub for social network.
- After course teachers following instructions can create himselve excursition.
- Teacher: Tsetsa Hristova
Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that it's rapidly entering in the Science classes. With this course a brief introduction to the possibilities AR offers are showed. From a simple enrichment of our documents with videos or 3D models until the design of inquiry experiences where our students will be the main characters is proposed.
The course study the possibilities of using LAYAR and AURASMA in our lessons, and later SKETCHUP with the plugin of AR-Media to design our own 3D Models with AR.
The course study the possibilities of using LAYAR and AURASMA in our lessons, and later SKETCHUP with the plugin of AR-Media to design our own 3D Models with AR.
- Teacher: Daniel Aguirre-Molina
The course aims to inform teachers about incorporating SSI in Science Education. More specifically aims to explore currently SSIs and relate them to science education standards, discuss several pedagogies related to the teaching of such issues, and give teachers examples of students`discussions so as to point to the several ethical, moral, social and other dimensions, beyond the scientific one, that might emerge in the classroom.
In this course you will find a tutorial's about free and very powerful open source platform for making Android App's: MIT App Inventor. Course also contains forum where you can share ideas and ask questions about App Inventor. Platform is designed for very easy to use an it provide a lot of taeching materials which you can use in your classroom.
- Teacher: Alojz Blazic
This course introduces Nearpod, a great tool for presenting educational materials. It can be used on smart phones, tablets, PC and various OS (Android, Windows, iOS). Easy to share, with pdf report this tool saves time and brings interactivity to your classroom.
- Teacher: Nada Stojičević
This course introduces Oppia, an online learning tool that enables anyone to easily create and share interactive activities. These activities, called 'explorations', simulate a one-on-one conversation with an intelligent tutor. During this course you can learn some basics in how to use this tool.
- Teacher: Nada Stojičević
The aim of this course is to introduce the basics for issuing, earning and displaying digital badges. A digital badge is an online representation (usually a symbol) of an accomplishment, skill, quality or interest you've earned. Open Badges is an open standard which makes easier to collect, store, share and display digital badges from different issuers. All of this can be used in schools to motivate not only students but also teachers and parents.
- Teacher: Eduardo Antonio Soto Rodríguez


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Teeth Whitening Risks and Side Effects
Potential Long-Term Risks
There are very few risks associated with teeth whitening. However, in rare cases, both professional-grade and over-the-counter products can cause:
- Permanent gum or tooth sensitivity
- Damage to your dental roots
- Enamel erosion
- Uneven results
- Damage to the mucous membranes in your mouth
Patients who continually whiten their teeth without the approval of their dentists can also develop serious oral health concerns. Constant use of peroxide-based whitening products can strip away tooth enamel and cause chemical burns on the soft tissue. However, these risks are rare and are typically associated with over-whitening or improper technique.
Undergoing professional whitening treatment with an experienced cosmetic dentist is the best way to minimize the chance of temporary or long-term side effects.
Temporary Side Effects
Although teeth whitening rarely causes long term damage, temporary sensitivity is not uncommon. If you experience any discomfort following your treatment, your dentist can help you minimize irritation in the future.
Dental Sensitivity
For most patients, sensitivity dissipates within a few days of treatment. While there is no way to predict who may develop the condition, some patients face a higher risk for post-whitening sensitivity. You are more likely to experience this side effect if you:
- Already have sensitive teeth
- Notice changes in the sensitivity of your teeth following a hygienic cleaning
- Experience sensitivity following brushing, flossing, or fluoride treatments
Your dentist can recommend techniques to minimize sensitivity for future treatments. Gentle cleansing products and toothpastes can manage and decrease discomfort. Some dentists also offer desensitizing products for whitening patients. If you experience irritation, you should abstain from touch-up treatments until otherwise instructed by your dentist.
Gum Irritation
Another common side effect associated with teeth whitening is gum irritation. This condition may result from:
- Using an ill-fitting bleaching tray
- Failure of the protective barrier during in-office treatment
- Overuse of a whitening agent
When designed correctly, at-home whitening trays prevent the bleaching gel from coming into contact with your gum tissue. Your dentist can create a custom-made tray to reduce the chance of irritation.
Minimizing Your Risks
Undergoing whitening treatment with an experienced cosmetic dentist is the best way to minimize the chance of temporary or long-term or side effects. Over-the-counter whitening products are less predictable. Some inexpensive products have dangerously high levels of peroxide. In addition, they are more likely to cause uneven results. Most side effects of teeth whitening stem from improper use of whitening gel, meaning you can protect your oral health by following all of your dentist's instructions precisely. Consult your dentist before beginning whitening treatment to determine if you are a good candidate for teeth bleaching.