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by Heather McNamara & Lauren McNamara
Lauren: Last Thursday, I appeared on CNN's The Lead with Jake Tapper to discuss the Chelsea Manning case. During the segment, we covered my personal history with Chelsea, as well as the question of access to transition-related healthcare for transgender people in prisons. Tapper repeatedly referred to Chelsea as her former name, Bradley, and used masculine pronouns. In my responses, I made sure to use her chosen name and pronouns.
Prior to my segment, the producers informed me that it was CNN's current policy to use Chelsea's old name and address her as male, as she had not yet legally changed her name or begun any medical transition process. However, they also let me know that I was free to refer to Chelsea as I wished. While I strongly disagreed with their policy of misgendering her and their excuses for doing so, I felt it would nevertheless be helpful to appear on the show and set an example by respecting her name and gender.
After my appearance, I tweeted to Tapper to express my appreciation that I was able to be on the show and discuss this case. Several of my followers took note of this, and rightly criticized Tapper for persistently misgendering Chelsea. Tapper responded that this was not his decision, and that it was a matter of CNN's policy.
Later that day, my fiancee, Heather, made a post on my blog explaining how stressful her day had been due to dealing with people's attitudes toward my segment on CNN. While she had been sitting at the doctor's office with our two sons, my segment was airing on the TV in the waiting room. Some older people waiting there seemed to be laughing at the very idea of trans people, and she confronted them about this. She also found it awkward and unnecessary that, as our children were watching, Tapper referred to me as previously being a "gay man".
Heather: Friday, I called out of work. Thursday had been a very long day, and in any case, it was easier to take care of the kids while Lauren continued to do interviews on Democracy Now! and various radio shows. However, I was still feeling ruffled from the night before, so I took to my Twitter, writing a number of tweets criticizing CNN's unnecessary and transphobic policy of referring to Chelsea as "Bradley" and using male pronouns until such a time as her name is legally changed and medical transition has begun. One such tweet was a reply to one of Jake Tapper's tweets regarding the interview with Lauren:
.@jaketapper @TheLeadCNN Her name is Chelsea.
— Heather McNamara (@GivMeUrIndieLit) August 23, 2013
Before long, I received a reply from Tapper:
@GivMeUrIndieLit i understand your position. if you have an issue with CNN policy, you should take it up with the policy makers.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 23, 2013
And then:
@GivMeUrIndieLit your fiance was great on the show
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 23, 2013
I'm going to assume the one-E masculine "fiance" was a typo. I replied:
.@jaketapper Thank you for replying. Who are the policy makers?
— Heather McNamara (@GivMeUrIndieLit) August 23, 2013
I did not receive a reply to this tweet for a few hours. Another Twitter account, @DanielMWolff, jumped in:
@jaketapper This is just going to be interpreted as deflection if you don't give people a contact. Editorial board? S&P? @GivMeUrIndieLit
— Daniel Wolff (@DanielMWolff) August 23, 2013
.@jaketapper I understand that you are not the person who decides how these things are discussed, but my fiancee is going to be on CNN +
— Heather McNamara (@GivMeUrIndieLit) August 23, 2013
.@jaketapper again tomorrow morning & I'd very much appreciate a link/twitter/whatever to get in touch with the decision makers before then
— Heather McNamara (@GivMeUrIndieLit) August 23, 2013
@GivMeUrIndieLit just as an fyi, b4 the show i thought your fiancee told me that when she and Manning were speaking they were both gay men
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 23, 2013
.@jaketapper They were never gay men. They identified that way before they discovered their identities, but she doesn't mind simplification.
— Heather McNamara (@GivMeUrIndieLit) August 23, 2013
At this point, Jake asked me to follow his account, and we exchanged email addresses and phone numbers. He asked me to call him because he was driving. I did not record the conversation so all that follows is paraphrasing and not by any means intended to be exact quotations.
The first thing he said when I called was that he wanted to let me know that he was deeply sorry for what I went through at the doctor's office (referring to my previous post), and that he knew that I couldn't be personally responsible for the barrage of tweets that he received on the topic of Chelsea's gender, but that I needed to understand that CNN and NPR have the LGBT community's best interests at heart. He said he wasn't sure how he was supposed to know that saying my fiancee once identified as a gay man was supposed to be so much better than saying that she was a gay man.
I explained that I can't stop people's anger – that people get angry and vent, but what I'm trying to do right now is to get productive about the language that's used on television so that we can avoid inciting that anger in the future. I told him that I'm older than Lauren and remember the time when respectful treatment of a person such as myself, a lesbian, would have meant discussing me as somebody with a problem that couldn't be helped, or as being a product of some sort of childhood sexual abuse – but that has changed, and this is how that change happens.
Jake replied that he spoke with a trans activist who said there were 250,000 trans people in America. He said that's not that many, and that even the LGB community, "of which you are a part," has trouble accepting trans people and that I should know that.
I told him that yes, I was aware of this problem, and that if media sources like CNN could be guided toward resources for respectful language like the GLAAD style guide, then the common narrative might change.
In what I felt was a very condescending tone, Jake responded that he was sure the higher-ups were quite aware of the style guide, thank-you-very-much – but that, and he didn't want to offend anyone by saying so, he thinks we can all agree that groups like GLAAD had (here, he struggled to think of an inoffensive word) an agenda.
He went on to say that he didn't appreciate being treated like a bigot by angry people on Twitter, and that even though he understands that I had a bad time at the doctor's office, he thought the language people were using to express their anger was counterproductive. He said that what he would do is pass on an email that I could send him to the higher-ups, and that I should keep in mind that if I use that kind of angry language within the email, nobody will read it.
He again said I should keep in mind that CNN and NPR care about LGBT people, and that they're just trying to get things right. He also said that after two years of coverage of Manning as Bradley, it might confuse the viewers to switch immediately to Chelsea.
At this point, I reminded him that the blog post I wrote did not name him, and that it wasn't about him or about anyone except myself and my experience as a mother of two children – who have learned about their stepmother's gender – hearing their stepmother being described as a gay man on television and having adults in their vicinity laugh at this. I explained I never had any intention to be aggressive about this and that this was simply my story to tell. I told him that I'm sure there's something I can think of that would clarify the transition from Bradley to Chelsea without being disrespectful to Chelsea.
He said he understood that some trans people wanted to think that a person becomes "a trans" the minute they say they are, and he personally doesn't care whether somebody wants to be a man or a woman or whatever, but that from CNN's point of view, if the person hasn't done anything medical, then it's confusing to "the rest of us." He also said that the HRC hasn't exactly given them any guidance on this issue. I said that, yes, the HRC does have a known problem with erasing trans people and issues.
He then closed the call by reminding me to keep my email civil and not to expect any response.
Heather & Lauren: This isn't just about how a single anchor, or a single network, has handled Chelsea Manning's gender. It also serves as an example, a microcosm of the attitude of many major news outlets toward trans issues. When we see mainstream news networks and papers acting as though respect for Chelsea's womanhood is optional, or something for them to indulge at their own leisure and in their own due time, what's going on behind the scenes are rationales like those offered by Jake Tapper.
This may have begun innocently enough as a group of people failing to understand an underrepresented and largely invisible minority group. Though Tapper and CNN's higher-ups believe that excuses and summarizes the whole of the problem, that's not the case. By now, several mainstream news outlets such as MSNBC, NPR, and The Guardian have already chosen to recognize and respect Chelsea's gender. The continuation of this neglect no longer indicates innocent ignorance. Since Chelsea's coming out, CNN and its partners in this neglect have actively made several distinct decisions to dismiss the voices and identities of transgender people.
Such news agencies have demanded that trans people meet an unusually high standard of proof simply to have their names and genders respected. When reporting on someone like Lady Gaga or Vanilla Ice, use of their names is not contingent on court orders showing their legal name or medical records providing evidence of their gender. Yet trans people's very existence receives much greater doubt and scrutiny. Chelsea is first expected to pursue HRT and surgery even as the same news segment is reporting on her current lack of access to any of these medical resources. They're clearly aware of the situation she faces, and their use of it as an excuse rings hollow – yet they choose to use it anyway.
In spite of Tapper's (and presumably CNN's) continuing insistence that they care about the struggles of LGBT people, their priorities clearly lie with making things as simple as possible for their cisgender audience to understand no matter the cost. These networks' refusal to update their protocol sets an example for the cis world at large that a refusal to learn about or understand transgender people is acceptable. When supposedly liberal networks insist that trans people are too confusing to accommodate, society at large follows their lead.
These news outlets have substituted their empty declarations of self-assigned allyhood for any meaningful actions that would demonstrate true support for us. In their self-centered hypersensitivity, they balk at being thought of as bigots or criticized by LGBT people on Twitter. But they exhibit hardly any sense of the gravity of their own responsibilities. They sit in a position of great influence over the public's understanding of trans people; with that position, they intentionally promote oversimplified taglines of "HE wants to be a SHE!" – authoritatively confirming to viewers that this is all they need to know or care about. The role of the news is to report events accurately and keep the public informed. And when they're more concerned about being made fun of on Twitter, this shows that they don't consider trans people's lives to be important enough to bother getting the story right. "Ally" is not an identity; it is an action. They are claiming themselves as allies and refusing to do any of the work.
When the precedence for dismissal has been set, it's hardly surprising to see the ensuing painful dismissal of the necessity and validity of treatment for gender dysphoria. The willfulness of the ignorance surrounding Chelsea's gender extends to the persistent mischaracterization of her treatment. The medications she needs are both common and cheap while being uncommonly effective, yet Lauren was continually bombarded with questions over whether taxpayers should have to foot the bill and whether counseling should be considered sufficient. A cursory glance at the WPATH Standards of Care could have settled both of those questions, but when CNN says "Bradley wants to be a woman" instead of the correct "Chelsea is a woman," they have misled the public to believe that this is the frivolous whim of a prisoner rather than a serious and treatable condition. As Lauren was repeatedly forced to explain, this should no more be up for debate than treating diabetes, but CNN and other networks' word choice has made it seem so. Tapper stated that he was offended by being called a bigot. He may not like it and he may not be the decision maker here, but CNN's actions are bigoted.
The medical aspects of gender dysphoria and the legal basis for the necessity of treating trans people in prison are incredibly clear and well-established. This is a real condition recognized by actual medical authorities, unlike some transphobe's mocking contention that they now identify as a tree. Gender dysphoria has been studied extensively over the past century. Its defining features have been identified; its risks when untreated are known to be severe, and the only effective treatment has become so empirically obvious that it cannot be ignored.
As it stands, there remains no serious medical or scientific debate over whether transsexualism exists. Trans people are real people who live in the real world, not some mere flight of fancy so bizarre as to warrant suspicion that this is a fiction. But such bafflement and incomprehension are what an outlet like CNN encourages when they – one of the world's leading media organizations – are mysteriously unable to educate themselves on the indisputable facts of this issue.
Whether CNN chooses to acknowledge it or not, trans people are a part of their audience. We are taxpayers, viewers, consumers, citizens, soldiers, and sometimes prisoners. We are not political debates. We are not an agenda. We are entitled to treatment where necessary and acknowledgment of our identities irrespective of the irrelevant opinions of lay persons and news reporters. The military has refused to provide a prisoner with the treatment she requires. That is a tragedy, and the only relevant news item.
While a CNN anchor may suggest contacting the network's policymakers to bring about change, the attitude expressed in their coverage makes it all too clear that such an attempt would be thwarted at every turn. They've already decided which LGBT organizations they'll listen to, selectively choosing to hear only the HRC's silence while dismissing GLAAD's unambiguous guidance as the product of a questionable agenda. They've recklessly delegitimized trans people's existence in the eyes of millions then demanded we stifle our own justified anger. When these self-proclaimed allies can't bring themselves to listen to the very people they've publicly maligned, how are we supposed to believe that they care about respecting us at all?
Heather McNamara writes about indie literature, politics, and civil rights at HeatherMcNamara.net.


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I was fortunate that I spent my early years living across the road from my grandmother. Thanks to photographs that have been kept in the family, I have photographs of her at different stages of her adult life and one from her childhood.
Emily Lily Dudley was born in 1884 in Birmingham, England to Josiah Dudley, a bricklayer and Sarah Mucklow. She came from a family where only four children lived into adulthood. Family lore says that Lil's mother had 22 children, which included 3 sets of twins and 2 sets of triplets. This has not been substantiated. So far, I have found only one other birth in 1869. There is a gap from 1875 to 1884 so quite possibly there were other children.
In 1901, Lil's father died. At the time of Lil's marriage, the family lived at 2 Back 6 Little Green Lane in the Aston area of Birmingham. (Small Heath) Housing was often crowded. To read about Back to Back Housing in Birmingham, check this site.
I suspect that she met her future husband, William Iles at the Small Heath Salvation Army.
Using multi-map with approximate addresses, it would be about a twenty minute walk between their homes.
My grandparents were married in 1903 in the Register office. From the Salvation Army Heritage web site I learnt that
The Salvation Army, were not registered to perform marriages until 1898 (and after that it was up to individual corps to have their halls licensed). Many corps halls were not licensed for marriages until the 1950s or 1960s, or later, so sometimes there would be two ceremonies: the official marriage ceremony at the Register Office and a Salvation Army marriage service at the Army hall. After 1898, the corps building could be used for marriages, with the ceremony conducted by a Salvation Army officer, but with a registrar or 'Authorised Person' present to fulfil the legal requirements.
Lily came to Canada in 1905 with her husband and baby girl, May. Also on board were William's mother and siblings. Her father-in-law may have emigrated the year before. Her older brothers had already emigrated to the United States. She left behind her sister, Rose and her mother, Sarah in England.
The 1911 census shows the two Iles families living outside Owen Sound. What a contrast after living in the crowded city of Birmingham. The family moved into Owen Sound, a small town, and Lil lived there the rest of her life.
Lily was a member of the Salvation Army until her death, but her husband and some of the boys left the Salvation Army to join the United Church of Canada. I have been told that she played the timbrel (similar to a tambourine) and was active in the Home League.
Lil was mother to nine who lived to adulthood: three daughters and six sons. One son and one daughter are still living. During the First World War, her husband was overseas for three and a half years. I understand that he went overseas in March 1916, the month in which my father was born. I wonder if he was home for my dad's birth. It must have been hard for her while grandpa was gone. She kept the postcards that he sent her.
During the Second World War, five of her sons served. Fortunately, all returned home.
Grandma knit baby sets and sweaters for her young grandchildren. She was grandma to over thirty grand-children. I recall a time when she asked me to try on a sweater. She wanted me to check how it fit on me as she was making it for one of my cousins who was about my size. It turns out it was to be my sweater. I don't remember anything about the sweater. When she got older and her vision was getting poorer, grandpa wrote out the patterns on cardboard to make it easier for her to follow.
This photograph is of my sister, Nancy and I. I don't look very happy. I have never been fond of having my photo taken.
She and William celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary with a family dinner. In attendance were her six sons and three daughters, twenty-eight grandchildren and thirty-three great grandchildren.

subset: commoncrawl


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For five seasons, actress Sonja Sohn played Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs on the critically acclaimed HBO series The Wire, which chronicled life — and death — on Baltimore's toughest streets.
When the series ended, Sohn stayed in East Baltimore, where she co-founded a nonprofit called ReWired for Change. The organization works with young people who have been incarcerated and who are out on parole, to try to help them straighten out their lives. Sohn uses scenes straight from The Wire to help make her point through education, media and advocacy.
The project hits close to home for Sohn, who grew up in an underserved community in Newport News, Va. As a teenager, she went through several traumatic experiences — some that she continually had to revisit on set.
"It wasn't the scenes so much as the location," she says. "I realized that what was happening was that I was working in neighborhoods that were very reminiscent of the neighborhoods that I grew up in. I was seeing people that reminded me of the people I grew up with. I was essentially, on some level, experiencing a retraumatization. And my brain was just short-circuiting all over the place."
Despite having years of training both in acting and in the slam poetry world, Sohn started forgetting her lines on set. She contemplated quitting the award-winning series after the first season.
"It didn't dawn on me that possibly some of that stuff [from my childhood] could still be affecting my life," she says. "I started to learn a bit about trauma toward the end of my tenure on The Wire, and in the following years, I started to dive into that."
What was most difficult for her, she realized, was playing a cop on The Wire, in part because of her own experiences with the police as a child.
"My own perception of cops was that they came into your neighborhood, they roughed up people that you loved for no reason and took them away," she says. "As a child you saw that."
When she was older, Sohn started calling the police herself, to protect her mother, who was being abused.
"To call the police is a really big deal because you don't snitch — that's the culture you grow up in," she says. "You certainly don't want to call the police on your father. But if I thought my mother's life was in danger, I would pick up the phone and call the cops."
After one serious altercation, Sohn says, she remembers the police coming to her house and essentially doing nothing about the situation.
"I saw the cop look at the other one and roll his eyes and smirk and kind of laugh, and that angered me so deeply," she says. "I believe that sealed the inner dislike of the cops. So I had to overcome all of that to play this cop [on The Wire]."
Staying In Baltimore
After The Wire ended, many of Sohn's co-workers returned to Los Angeles, but she stayed in Baltimore to create her nonprofit, targeted at young people who were moving in and out of the juvenile justice system. The idea came to Sohn in 2008, as she was touring the country with other cast members from The Wire to educate people about their voting rights.
"It was during that time that we discovered that we had quite a bit of influence in these underserved communities," she says. "In North Carolina, we were doing some campaign work for now-President Obama, and we were distributing campaign literature, and we saw that there were people who hadn't voted in past elections who were literally going to vote."
The work made Sohn realize how influential her time on The Wire had been.
"We thought, 'Hey, if we can pull folks off the basketball courts in Charlotte to go vote ... what else could we do?' At that point, we thought we just couldn't use this social capital to promote our careers — it seemed so small," she says. "So when I came up with this idea that we start this nonprofit, the fellows all liked the idea and they said, 'We don't have time to run it, but if you can run it, we got your back,' and they became the founding members of the organization."
Actors Wendell Pierce and Michael K. Williams both serve on the board of ReWired for Change. Series creator David Simon is the honorary chairman. The organization works with teenagers in Baltimore to break the cycle of crime through education, creative arts and positive messages from role models.
Sohn says running the program makes her feel like her life is finally in balance.
"I felt like I was trapped in this acting game going, 'What is this all about? What is this all leading to?' " she says. "And in 2008, when I saw the kind of influence that a person who is in the public eye can have in the lives of those who have less, then I began to see, 'Ah ... this is the solution. This is what it was all leading to all this time.' And once I embraced that, life came into perfect balance. And that's what it's all about."
Interview Highlights
On acting
"My journey to becoming an actress is not your typical one. I didn't strive to become an actress all my life. It's not some goal that I had. This career essentially chased me down while I was on the spoken-word scene in New York. I kept hearing that my delivery of my poetry — which was very personal and cathartic at the time — was very moving to folks. People thought that I was an actress because of my delivery, when I was just dropping into the work and really pouring out my soul. At any rate, one thing led to another, and it seems like I couldn't escape this career chasing me, so I decided to stop, turn around and face it. I realized that there was something internal that I could gain from pursuing this career as an actor. However, once I got into the business I just really abhorred what this career can drum up inside of a person."
On her purpose in the world
"[Acting] really plays on your ego, and I had a really tough time with battling that and trying to balance that out. Beyond that, my main drive in life has always been to discover my purpose for being here, for living. ... And I knew it had something to do with helping people. ... And the entire time I was acting, I couldn't figure out what this had to do with my purpose."
On wanting to quit The Wire
"By the time I'd gotten The Wire, I was experienced. ... And I was ready. But I found myself, after hours of preparation, blanking out on my lines. Just completely spacing out. And I saw the reaction of my co-workers and the tension as the takes are clapping away and the time is ticking and the money is being spent. And I started feeling very humiliated and going, 'What is going on?' And I got very disheartened. And I would study for hours and I would know my material, and some days, it just wasn't there."
On drugs
"I first smoked pot when I was 11 years old. At first, it was just us experimenting with pot. A lot of us had older brothers who were drug dealers, so we found the weed. ... And so, that's how we became introduced to it. ... By the time I was 13, I was smoking every day. I realize now that that coincided with a time in my life when I had just given up on things being any different at home. I had spent a lot of time during my childhood trying to fix my family and trying to find a way to make this work so that I could be home and be happy. ... All I wanted was to be happy. I wanted some peace."
On her older brother's murder when he was 29
Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.


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Codes and Frequencies
For sample adults in 2007 who had taken one or more herbal supplements during the past 30 days (HERMO) and had taken the first herbal supplement to prevent (but not to treat) a specific health problem or condition (HER1PREV), HER1PINFB indicates whether the person had used an herbal supplement to prevent inflammatory bowel disease.
Related Variables
Inflammatory bowel disease was one of 87 possible specific conditions that respondents could report preventing with herbal supplements.
The other such conditions are:
- attention deficit disorder (HER1PADD)
- excessive alcohol or tobacco use (HER1PALCTOB)
- angina (HER1PANGINA)
- anxiety (HER1PANX)
- arthritis (HER1PARTH)
- asthma (HER1PASTH)
- autism (HER1PAUT)
- back pain or problem (HER1PBACPAIN)
- bipolar disorder (HER1PBIPOL)
- birth defect (HER1PBIRTHD)
- anemia and blood disorders--adults (HER1PBLOOD)
- cancer (HER1PCANC)
- chronic bronchitis (HER1PCBRON)
- cholesterol (HER1PCHOL)
- head or chest cold (HER1PCOLD)
- constipation needing medication (HER1PCONST)
- coronary heart disease (HER1PCORON)
- other nerve damage, including carpal tunnel syndrome (HER1PCTS)
- benign tumors or cysts (HER1PCYST)
- dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (HER1PDEMENT)
- dental pain (HER1PDENPAIN)
- depression (HER1PDEPRES)
- diabetes (HER1PDIAB)
- emphysema (HER1PEMPH)
- excessive sleepiness during the day (HER1PESLEEPY)
- fibromyalgia (HER1PFIBRO)
- influenza or pneumonia (HER1PFLU)
- fracture, bone or joint injury (HER1PFRACT)
- gout (HER1PGOUT)
- gum disease (HER1PGUM)
- gynecologic problem (HER1PGYN)
- heart attack (HER1PHATT)
- hay fever (HER1PHAY)
- hearing problem (HER1PHEAR)
- hernia (HER1PHERN)
- hypertension (HER1PHYPER)
- insomnia (HER1PINSOM)
- stomach or intestinal illness (HER1PINTEST)
- irritable bowel (HER1PIRRB)
- jaw pain (HER1PJAWPAIN)
- joint pain or stiffness/other joint condition (HER1PJNTPAIN)
- weak or failing kidneys (HER1PKIDNEY)
- poor circulation in legs (HER1PLCIRC)
- liver problem (HER1PLIVER)
- lupus (HER1PLUPUS)
- mania or psychosis (HER1PMANIA)
- memory loss or loss of other cognitive function (HER1PMEMLOS)
- menopause (HER1PMENOP)
- menstrual problems (HER1PMENST)
- migraine or severe headache (HER1PMIG)
- missing limbs (fingers, toes or digits), amputee (HER1PMLIMB)
- neck pain or problem (HER1PNECPAIN)
- circulation problems (other than in the legs) (HER1PNLCIRC)
- other allergies--adults (HER1POALLA)
- other developmental problem (HER1PODD)
- other heart condition or disease (HER1POHART)
- other infectious diseases (HER1POINF)
- other injury (HER1POINJ)
- knee problems (not arthritis, not joint injury) (HER1POKNEE)
- other lung or breathing problem (HER1POLUNG)
- other musculoskeletal problem (HER1POMUSC)
- osteoporosis, tendinitis (HER1POSTEO)
- phobias (HER1PPHOBIA)
- polio (myelitis), paralysis, para/quadriplegia (HER1PPOLIO)
- prostate trouble or impotence (HER1PPROST)
- acid reflux (HER1PREFLUX)
- regular headaches (HER1PREGHEAD)
- mental retardation (HER1PRET)
- Rheumatoid arthritis (HER1PRHEUM)
- schizophrenia (HER1PSCHIZ)
- seizures (HER1PSEIZ)
- senility (HER1PSENILE)
- sinusitis (HER1PSINUS)
- skin problems--adults (HER1PSKINA)
- sprain or strain (HER1PSPRAIN)
- stress (HER1PSTRESS)
- stroke (HER1PSTROKE)
- substance abuse, other than alcohol or tobacco (HER1PSUBST)
- ulcer (HER1PULCER)
- urinary problem (HER1PURIN)
- varicose veins, hemorrhoids (HER1PVEIN)
- vision problem (HER1PVISION)
- weight problem (HER1PWEIGHT)
Persons taking more than one herbal supplement during the past 30 days were also asked whether their second herbal supplement was used to prevent a specific problem or condition (HER2PREV) and, if so, what was that condition. Similarly, persons taking vitamin supplements during the past 30 days (VITMO) were asked whether those vitamin supplements were used to prevent a specific condition (see VIT1PREV and VIT2PREV).
HER1MOST reports the specific first herbal supplement (out of 45 possible herbs) that was taken most often by the respondent. Analysts interested in the prevention of inflammatory bowel disease by other herbal or vitamin supplements should see the related variables HER2PINFB, VIT1PINFB, and VIT2PINFB. The corresponding variables HER2MOST, VIT1MOST, and VIT2MOST indicate which herbal or vitamin supplement was taken.
Sample adults and sample children were also asked about their use of herbal supplements to treat (rather than to prevent) health problems or conditions (HER1TREAT and HER2TREAT). Researchers interested in the use of herbal supplements to treat inflammatory bowel disease should see HER1TINFB and HER2TINFB. For more information on the full range of variables related to the use of herbal supplements, see HERMO.
- 2007: Sample adults age 18+ who have taken one or more herbal supplements during the past 30 days and took the first herbal supplement to prevent but not treat or cure a specific health problem or condition.
- 2007


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Last Thursday Austin Energy General Manager Roger Duncan briefed Austin City Council on the utility's Resource and Climate Protection Plan. This plan is the culmination of 18 months of input from the public, the creation of a generation resource task force of various stakeholders to review various energy plans and make recommendations, and support and input from both the Electric Utility Commission and the Resource Management Commission — but it still isn't the end of the line for the plan. The generation plan will also be the subject of a city-wide town hall meeting February 22nd, and city council is expected to vote on some version of it in March.
The energy plan that Duncan (who will be retiring soon and we wish him the very best) presented sets Austin on a path to reduce our carbon emissions 20% below 2005 levels by 2020 and get a total of 35% of our energy from renewable resources. It will meet council's renewable energy goals, move Austin Energy towards becoming the leading utility in the nation in terms of clean energy and global warming solutions, and re-affirm the city's commitment to the Climate Protection Plan, which has the laudable goal to establish a cap and reduction plan for the utility's carbon dioxide emissions. It is a flexible, living document that will allow council to evolve and adapt as conditions change. AND it will reduce the capacity factor of our Fayette Coal Plant to 60% and gets the ball rolling on figuring out the best way to shut it down(which you know makes me happy). Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, doesn't it?
As we've come to expect over the years from our award winning utility, Austin Energy is taking an especially responsible and forward-thinking role with this new plan. I've formed this opinion for a few reasons:
- They're adopting aggressive renewable energy and efficiency goals as part of a larger, smart business plan. Austin doesn't need a new generation plan because we're going to be strapped for energy by 2020; Austin Energy could rest on their laurels and do nothing for the next ten years and we'd be fine buying up excess energy on the open market as its power purchase agreements expire and gas plants age. But if they did that, by the time 2020 rolled around Austin would be way behind the technological curve and very likely be stuck with higher rates as a result. Austin Energy has picked up on the national trend that the traditional fuels we rely upon, such as coal, are quickly becoming financial liabilities even as solar and wind are becoming more and more cost effective. This plan will allow the utility to reposition itself for 2020 going forward so that in ten years we will have made the preparations necessary to take full advantage of the coming clean tech boom rather than be left scrambling and dependent on outdated energy sources.
- Austin Energy and the task force that helped formulate this plan were very careful to balance considerations of reliability, affordability, and clean (in terms of the environment and human health). The city has the responsibility to make sure that everyone who lives here can afford their utility bills. It doesn't do any good to make the switch to a new clean economy if we do so on the backs of those that can least afford it. But that couldn't be farther from the case with this plan; this isn't green for some, this is green for all. Compared to other options, this plan will minimize the impact for those least able to pay their electricity bill, supports in-house economic development and the hiring of local contractors, and ensures that everyone will have a chance to play a role in moving our city and economy forward. There's been a lot of focus and attention on the utility's estimate that the plan will raise rates in 2020 by approximately 22% or $21 a month, but what's missing from that discussion is that even if Austin Energy doesn't do anything between now and 2020 rates will go up by 15% or about $14 a month. So do the math — for an extra $7 a month in ten years, we can build up a clean local economy that minimizes impacts on low-income consumers and creates avenues to new employment opportunities, improves public health, AND puts Austin in a prime position to start lowering rates by taking advantage of cheap renewable energy. OR we can save families $7 a month compared to today on their utility bills but lose out on new jobs and leave every citizen in the city of Austin at the mercy of high fossil fuel costs and coming federal regulations on greenhouse gas emissions. Austin Energy is not only looking at what is most affordable now, but what is most affordable in the long term. Coal may be cheap and reliable energy now, but depending on it in the long term will get us into trouble in terms of cheap and affordable in 2020.
- Austin Energy is not only reaching for the low fruit of emissions reductions and energy efficiency, they're building high-tech ladders to get at the really juicy stuff at the top of the tree. Let me explain. There are a number of ways Austin Energy could go about reducing emissions. The easiest of these would be to buy renewable energy credits, or RECs. RECs and offsets are in essence a mechanism for utilities, businesses, and governmental bodies to pay someone else to clean up and still get the credit for it. They're a good and have a positive influence on society at large because they do encourage clean energy investment and development, but not necessarily in a nearby community (in fact almost certainly not). It might be easier in the short run to pay someone else to be clean up, but then we miss out on all the delicious creamy gravy that comes along with renewable energy development. If you buy RECs you don't get new jobs and businesses in your community. If you buy RECs your own people are still breathing the same amount of pollution. But Austin Energy is taking the initiative to really get at the heart of the problem by cutting the amount of pollution coming out of the smokestacks we own. For that, they should be applauded.
This is just my own personal take-away from listening to various people discuss the recommendation plan and hearing Roger Duncan's presentation to council. You can learn a lot more about the process and final recommended plan by visiting AustinSmartEnergy.com or CleanEnergyforAustin.org. Join us after the jump for some fast facts on the various components of the plan, but for the real nitty gritty check out Duncan's own powerpoint presentation.


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I have seen two criticisms of Obama in recent weeks.
The first, which was loudest during the debt debate, blames Obama for gridlock in the federal government that postponed a debt ceiling debate to the last minute that contributed to lowering the country's credit rating. This is after he went 75% of the way towards meeting the Republicans on a compromise budget, he refused to go the other 25% and concede everything to the Republicans. And for refusing total surrender, he is to blame for confessional gridlock.
The second, and loudest in the past few days, claims that he is weak and unwilling to fight. He made a request to speak to a joint session of congress. House Speaker Boehner raised objections, so Obama changed the day. Now, Obama is weak for accepting what some people claim to be a demonstration of contempt for the office of President.
It really is a "can't win" situation.
I wonder how these types of situations come into existence? What cultural forces are at play?
I support Obama for being willing to negotiate and go the extra distance, willing to go 75% of the way towards compromise with a Republican leadership that refused to move even 10% of the way to meet him, as I discussed in Dogmatic Arrogance: The Picture of the 2012 Presidential Election
And, on the issue of which night to speak, thus is such a trivial matter I don't see how it would even be worthy of a news article, let alone all of the noise I have heard this week. It simply is not worth another fight that the American people, ultimately, will view as petty and trivial (because it is). If it were me, I would throw my arms up and say to Congress, "Fine, you be petty and trivial, I will focus on what needs to be done to help this country."
But is it not clear that Obama's strength or weakness comes from us?
The Tea Party Conservatives became such a powerful voice in Congress because we allowed them to - because we refused to fight and challenge them. We said, "Go ahead. Take the House." And now Obama has them to contend with.
And we allowed Obama to take the blame for the debt negotiations, because - well, I didn't hear very much noise at all condemning the Republican refusal to go even 10% of the way towards compromise. At best, I heard that since no agreement was reached, Obama and the Republicans were equally responsible. Thus is in spite of the fact that no deal was even possible with the Republicans that fell even a fraction of a percentage short if complete capitulation.
Now, there are people claiming that Obama is weak because he agreed to move the speech away from a day that hosted a Republican Presidential debate and onto a day that had a football game. I mean, seriously, can't Obama recognize the value of sticking to his guns and not risk interfering with the first football game if the season? This is football, after all! It's important!
At this point, the cost of these failures, if they continue, will be to have Texas governor Richard Perry in the White House, the Tea Party in control of the House of Representatives, and a Republican majority in the Senate at the start if the next election.
I am not a partisan individual. If the Republicans were the moderate party willing to negotiate, and the Democrats were controlled by the so-called "progressive" faction (a faction that I consider to be no less irrational and ideologically blind than its Tea Party counterparts), I would side with moderation.
But the fact is, at this particular point in time, moderation and compromise rests with the Obama administration, and ideologically blind, foolish, and insanely stupid extremism dominates the Republicans (and certain ideologically pure uncompromising and arrogant Democrats).
Ultimately, if there is any group to be blamed for our current predicament, it is the "compromise is weakness" crowd - both in the Tea Party that insists on withdrawing support on Republicans who compromise (whom the Republican representatives are listening to), and in the Democratic side that also insists on withdrawing support form a President who compromises (whom the Obama Administration, so far, and thankfully, has not listened to).
I read somewhere a while back - I do not remember where, that Americans are sitting on their hands waiting for Obama's "American President" moment. This refers to the point at the climax of the movie American President at which President Andrew Shepherd (played by Michael Douglas) announces that he is going to fight. The movie script then invites us to imagine the world uniting behind him against a few die-hard Republicans to create heaven on earth all with the backdrop of emotionally powerful theme music. We cut to a few closing scenes, and everybody lives happily ever after, and we don't even have to get off of the couch. The script writer has made it happen with no effort on our part.
But this is not a movie where a Hollywood script writer will guarantee us a happy ending. This is reality where it is quite possible that, if things continue as they have, we will end up with Rick Perry in the Oval Office and a Tea Party in Congress.
And that's something to be worried about.
Friday, September 02, 2011
The Obama Administration: Compromise as Weakness
Posted by Alonzo Fyfe at 9:44 AM
4 comments:
I'm really enjoying the political posts, seems to be the next logical step for an ethicist to discuss political philosophy rather than worry about super-intelligent A.I. You have a much better chance of 'saving the world' by clearing up people's thinking about politics than trying to infuse machines with an ethical code.
- September 2, 2011 at 12:31 PM
- Josh said...
I second Wade's endorsement. I too do not consider myself partisan, although I am registered Democrat. Had I been voting age prior to Regan, I would have been registered republican. I believe that neither party has everything correct. I'm fiscally conservative, and believe the free market can go a long way towards affecting progressive change in our economy and general well-being. But the GOP of today is not free-market, even though their rhetoric proclaims they are. Balanced policies are the only way to go, because no dogmatic stance can be a good thing. Rather, basing decisions and policy on reason and evidence is the only way we can find out what works and implement it.
Josh Nankivel
http://iamSkeptic.com - September 3, 2011 at 9:53 PM
- Kristopher said...
good post. the anti-compromise people are creating a volatile political enviroment and it needs to stop.
obama looses support when he compromises on issues, so he compromises and loses support from his base
and the republicans who compromise lose support so they stop compromising which gains them support from their base
the preasure comes from us (not personally but as a people) and we are the only ones to blame for this problem. can you blame obama for compromising? can you blame republicans to reacting to the desires of the people? - September 5, 2011 at 10:11 PM
- mojo.rhythm said...
Alonzo said....If the Republicans were the moderate party willing to negotiate, and the Democrats were controlled by the so-called "progressive" faction (a faction that I consider to be no less irrational and ideologically blind than its Tea Party counterparts
I strongly disagree. Many members of the so-called "progressive caucus" are actually quite moderate, i.e. they would only be slightly to the left of Nixon.
Moreover, by comparative standards, they are much less irrational and driven by insanity than the Tea Party faction. For one, the vast majority of them do not think that climate change is a Communist conspiracy to implement total government control. Nor do the vast majority of them think that Barack Obama is the Kenyan-born Muslim love child of Malcolm X. Nor do any of them think that gay marriage is a threat to society that can only lead to group marriage, human-animal marriage and so on.
And nor do any of them think that the economy would start working again if the corporate tax rate was lowered from 35% to less than 5%. - September 8, 2011 at 7:06 AM


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About OGS
Thank you for your consideration of Optical Guidance Systems offerings.
Optical Guidance Systems has now celebrated our 31st year of operation. OGS provides research quality telescopes, mountings, computer controls, and accessories to a discerning clientele. We currently are specializing in "turn-key" robotic and Internet-controlled observatories. OGS manufactures Ritchey-Chretien telescopes, Classical Cassegrain, custom optical systems and research grade tracking mounts. Our telescopes range in size from 10-80 inches. Colleges, Universities and government agencies around the world, (including NASA and ESA), are using Optical Guidance Systems telescopes. If your institution has been considering the purchase of an Internet-controllable observatory or custom optical instrument, that is research grade, then please consider the Optical Guidance Systems product line. You may visit our Web site at, OpticalGuidanceSystems.com. Please contact us by phone or email us on our contact page.
OGS offers quality, delivery and price. We are your best choice!
We are looking forward to working with you.


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Panhard / Lateral Bar for RA64 Celica
We designed these to the highest possible standards. No skimping on the expensive parts here. All Heim joints at both ends with metric sizes for a direct fit! Zero Slop, and Zero Deflection - this lateral rod is SUPER tight!
The original bolt for the body side mount was a 12mm, but was tapered after the threads for a loose fit on the original bushing. We didn't like that lack of precision, so we are providing new 12mm bolt that have a precision shank for a super nice fit (helps reduce rattles and premature wear on the heim joints).
This rod has enough adjustability to be used on a stock height car or a car that is drastically lowered. Even on our test mule car (which hasn't had any of the other suspension modified), it made a drastic improvement in handling. The REAR END WIGGLE is GONE!
Comes with all alignment spacers, nuts and washers for a quick replacement - it took me 10 minutes to jack up the car and throw it on!
For those that are worried about excessive noise in the rear end from using all Heim joints, THERE IS NO WORRY! We actually thought that a lot of noise would be transfered from the rear end, but that was suprisingly not the case! I could not distinguish any noise difference at any rpms or while cornering. The only time it transfers any noise is when hitting bumps or rough pavement, and the noise is not very loud, just a little different than stock. I was very pleasantly suprised! Definately a street usable lateral rod - with the performance of a race unit!


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A Glass Of Red Wine A Day May Keep Prostate Cancer Away
- Date:
- September 27, 2004
- Source:
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
- Summary:
- Drinking a glass of red wine a day may cut a man's risk of prostate cancer in half, and the protective effect appears to be strongest against the most aggressive forms of the disease, according to a new study led by investigators at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
- Share:
SEATTLE – Drinking a glass of red wine a day may cut a man's risk of prostate cancer in half, and the protective effect appears to be strongest against the most aggressive forms of the disease, according to a new study led by investigators at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
The findings, by Janet L. Stanford, Ph.D., and colleagues in Fred Hutchinson's Public Health Sciences Division, appear online in The International Journal of Cancer.
"We found that men who consumed four or more glasses of red wine per week reduced their risk of prostate cancer by 50 percent," Stanford said. "Among men who consumed four or more 4-ounce glasses of red wine per week, we saw about a 60 percent lower incidence of the more aggressive types of prostate cancer," said Stanford, senior author of the study. "The more clinically aggressive prostate cancer is where the strongest reduction in risk was observed."
Stanford and colleagues found no significant effects – positive nor negative – associated with the consumption of beer or hard liquor and no consistent risk reduction with white wine, which suggests that there must be a beneficial compound in red wine that other types of alcohol lack. That compound, Stanford and colleagues believe, may be an antioxidant called resveratrol, which is abundant in the skins of red grapes but much less so in the skins of white grapes. The compound is also found in peanuts and raspberries and is available as a dietary supplement, which has been suggested to protect against cardiovascular disease.
Laboratory studies indicate that resveratrol influences a variety of biological pathways that are important in cancer development. For example:
* As an antioxidant, it helps sweep dangerous, cancer-causing free radicals from the body.
* As a potent anti-inflammatory agent, it blocks certain enzymes that promote tumor development.
* The compound also reduces cell proliferation, curtailing the number of cell divisions that could lead to cancer or the continued growth of cancer cells.
* It also enhances apoptosis, or programmed cell death, which helps rid the body of cancerous cells.
* It may act as an estrogen, reducing levels of circulating male hormones such as testosterone that fuel the growth of prostate cancer.
While the researchers found that the risk of prostate cancer decreased 6 percent for every glass of red wine consumed per week, Stanford is quick to point out that research shows the law of diminishing returns comes into play when consumption increases beyond moderation. "From a public-health standpoint, it's difficult to recommend any alcohol consumption given the risks associated with heavy consumption, from increased overall cancer risk to accidental injury and social problems. But for men who already are consuming alcohol, I think the results of this study suggest that modest consumption of red wine – four to eight 4-ounce drinks per week – is the level at which you might receive benefit. Clearly other studies show that more than that may have adverse effects on health."
For the study, the researchers interviewed 753 newly diagnosed Seattle-area prostate-cancer patients as well as 703 healthy controls who served as a comparison group. Detailed information about tumor aggressiveness (such as tumor grade and disease stage) was obtained through the National Cancer Institute's Seattle-Puget Sound Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results cancer registry.
"Even though this study is based on relatively small numbers, the results are very intriguing and suggest that the potential beneficial effect of red wine and resveratrol – if indeed resveratrol is the active chemopreventive agent involved – would be very important, because it's the more aggressive forms of prostate cancer than are most important to prevent," she said.
A particular strength of the study, Stanford said, is that the participants were relatively young, ranging in age from 40 to 64, and the majority were under 60.
"By focusing on men under age 65, whose incidence of prostate cancer is much lower than that of older men, we can tease out the effect of a particular environmental exposure on cancer risk, such as wine consumption, more easily than if we were looking at men across the entire age range," she said. This is particularly true when studying complex diseases such as prostate cancer in which numerous genetic and environmental factors are thought to play a role over an individual's lifetime.
Another strength of the study is that in addition to being surveyed about lifetime alcohol consumption, participants were asked about a variety of other risk factors for prostate cancer, such as diet, family history of cancer, screening for prostate cancer and tobacco use, all of which were taken into account and adjusted for when analyzing the data.
While the majority of studies to date have assessed the effects of overall alcohol use on prostate-cancer risk, fewer studies have attempted to compare the effects of wine versus beer versus hard liquor, and only one previous study has compared the impact of red versus white wine on prostate-cancer risk, said Stanford, also a professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine.
The previous study, the Netherlands Cohort Study, evaluated prostate-cancer risk in relation to white and red wine consumption. Increased risks were found in men who consumed "white and fortified wines," but not red wine, as compared to nondrinkers, although there was not a consistent trend in risks with levels of intake. Interestingly, among men who consumed 15 or more grams of red wine per day (about one and a half glasses per day), there was an overall 18 percent reduction in risk and a 16 percent lower risk of advanced-stage prostate cancers. The Netherlands Cohort Study was initiated in 1986 and collected information by self-administered mailed questionnaires that asked about alcohol consumption during the prior year only. Thus, the Netherlands Cohort Study results only reflect associations with recent wine consumption, as investigators were unable to examine lifetime intake as was done in the current Fred Hutchinson study.
"One of the reasons we wanted to do this study is because overall, most of the scientific literature – around 17 studies to date – haven't shown a consistent relationship between alcohol consumption and prostate cancer," Stanford said. "Some have shown an increase, some a decrease, and most no association whatsoever. Part of the problem, we believe, is that few of the studies have attempted to sort out the effects of different types of alcohol intake over a man's lifetime."
Stanford and colleagues plan to seek funding to conduct a larger study to see if their results hold up. In collaboration with Norm Greenberg, Ph.D., of Fred Hutchinson's Clinical Research Division, they also plan to test the effects of resveratrol on mouse models of prostate cancer to see if giving mice this chemical compound will reduce the onset of prostate cancer and/or decrease the aggressiveness of the disease.
The first author of the study, W. Marieke Schoonen, M.S., formerly a graduate student in Stanford's group, is now a doctoral student at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services funded the research.
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, home of two Nobel laureates, is an independent, nonprofit research institution dedicated to the development and advancement of biomedical technology to eliminate cancer and other potentially fatal diseases. Fred Hutchinson receives more funding from the National Institutes of Health than any other independent U.S. research center. Recognized internationally for its pioneering work in bone-marrow transplantation, the center's four scientific divisions collaborate to form a unique environment for conducting basic and applied science. Fred Hutchinson, in collaboration with its clinical and research partners, UW Medicine and Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the Pacific Northwest and is one of 38 nationwide. For more information, visit the center's Web site at http://www.fhcrc.org.
Story Source:
Materials provided by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
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sáb, 18 nov
Soap & Candle Making Class 1:30 PM
Learn to make 3 products: Soap, Soy Candle and Face Spritzer for your skin type
Registration is Closed
See other eventsHorario y ubicación
18 nov 2023, 13:30 – 15:00 GMT-5
Quarryville, 216 S Church St, Quarryville, PA 17566, USA
Acerca del evento
The classes will be held at our 1900 farmhouse kitchen in Southern Lancaster County: 216 S Church Street, Quarryville, PA 17566
Parking is across the street at the curb - please be prompt door will open 5 mins prior to class starting.
Please wear comfortable clothing, aprons provided and bottled water.
We have two pet pot belly pigs that live and roam our house. They are friendly and you will be able to pet them too!
Soap & Candle Making Class
February 19 - 1:30 pm
55,00 US$Comisión de servicio: +1,38 US$Venta finalizada
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October 20 Is World Osteoporosis Day
Each year, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) sponsors this global event to call attention to the prevention of osteoporosis, a condition that causes bones to become weak and fragile, and puts us at higher risk of fractures as we grow older. This year's theme is "Take Action for Bone Health," and the IOF urges everyone to follow these steps to stronger bones:
- Exercise regularly
- Include plenty of bone-healthy nutrients in your diet
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Avoid smoking and excess alcohol consumption
- Learn your risk factors
- Get tested for osteoporosis, and get treatment if necessary
A study on osteoporosis and nutrition published in the IOP's official journal, Osteoporosis International, stressed that bone health is a lifelong pursuit, highlighting the bone-protecting nutritional requirements of expectant mothers, children, adolescents, adults and older adults. With an emphasis on calcium, vitamin D and protein, the study showed that the goal in childhood and adolescence is to build the best bone mass we can. In adulthood, the goal is to avoid premature bone loss. And for seniors, preventing and treating osteoporosis is the focus.
Though good nutrition protects bones throughout life, a sad irony is that once we realize our bones have become brittle and porous, we've already passed our optimum years for building bone density. If only we could go back and lecture our younger selves!
There's an opportunity for grandparents there. Osteoporosis can have a genetic component, and eating habits also "run in families." Now that you're older and wiser, share what you've experienced and learned. If you're dealing with bone loss, talk about it. Urge younger family members to add calcium-rich foods to their diet. And don't forget those moms-to-be!
"Nutrition plays a key role in the development of a healthy skeleton even before birth," reported University of Southampton professor Cyrus Cooper, president of the IOF. "Healthy maternal diets as well as adequate vitamin D levels are associated with greater bone mass in the offspring."
The study authors reported that many children fail to get enough calcium and vitamin D. Adults, too, may be deficient, and many make lifestyle choices that lead to lower bone density, such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and being too overweight or underweight. Seniors in particular may be suffering from malnutrition.
With the increasing number of older adults in the U.S. and globally, the rate of osteoporosis is expected to rise. "The baby boomer generation is aging and as a result age-related musculoskeletal diseases are imposing an increasingly costly burden on society and health care systems worldwide," reported Dr. Bess Dawson-Hughes of Tufts University's Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging. "This report shows how we can tap the potential of healthy nutrition within a systematic life-course approach to support osteoporosis and fracture prevention."
The study authors said that improving the diet of older adults, along with exercise and medication, if recommended, can reduce the risk of debilitating falls and fractures. They created a free consumer booklet based on the study findings, Healthy Nutrition, Healthy Bones, which covers the various life stages and ways older adults can avoid falls and fractures.
The information in this article is not intended to replace the advice of your health care provider. Talk to your doctor about maintaining bone health and managing osteoporosis.
Source: IlluminAge reporting on materials from the International Osteoporosis Foundation


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Why I mistrust too much anger in politics
I mistrust too much anger in politics. A bit is all right, especially when the other side are telling lies or refusing to listen. But not too much. And not too much self-righteousness either, please. None of us is right all the time. That's why we have a Loyal Opposition and an adversarial Parliament, and the presumption of innocence, come to that.
Perhaps I am just too conscious of the horrors of Civil War. I am drawn to historical depictions of these wars, by a fearful fascination. How did men of the same nation end up slaughtering each other? Could this happen among our gentle hills and woods? Yes, it could, and has. Start treating opponents as enemies, and there is no telling where it might end.
I live in a city that was besieged in such a war, and where you can still, if you look carefully, find traces of old fortifications in now-peaceful suburbs. I have read, in history and in fiction, depictions of these events, of the horrible relentless inevitability with which the two sides have first ceased to listen to each other, then turned their backs on each other and finally begun killing each other. The past, as Evelyn Waugh once said, is the only thing we possess for certain. We should pay close attention to it.
Here is Kipling's 'Edgehill Fight', (read it in full here http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poems_edgehill.htm )
… full of pain and regret at the turning of Englishman against Englishman:
'And the raw astonished ranks stand fast
To slay or to be slain
By the men they knew in the kindly past
That shall never come again'
You might find something a little similar in Gore Vidal's rather beautiful description (in his novel 'Lincoln') of Abraham Lincoln visiting wounded Confederate prisoners of war. One of the badly-injured young men, unlikely to survive and in some pain, turns away from him in loathing and disgust. 'Son, we are all the same at the end', says the unhappy President, quietly. The reader alone knows how true this will be, and how soon. It is in this book that Lincoln, driven to misery and self-loathing by the carnage he must pursue to the end, rages that the very rooms in which he works and sleeps seem to have filled up with blood.
And these episodes are nothing to the Civil Wars of Russia and Spain, both in our times, adding modern weapons to pre-mediaeval cruelty. Not to mention the merciless wars of Ireland in the early part of this century, and their more recent sequels.
So I sicken a little when – in a country divided almost equally on a contentious issue – my own side takes such a scornful view of my opponents. When I wrote my Mail on Sunday column http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2016/12/we-crushed-the-remainers-now-we-must-be-kind-to-them.html
at the end of last week, I did not know until I was at my keyboard how very much I felt that some sort of generosity was called for. If you love your country – and this is the only real motivation for wanting its independence – then you also love your fellow countrymen and your fellow countrywomen. Therefore if you disagree with them , you seek to do so with patience, kindness and tolerance, and a readiness to listen. So what if they don't do the same? 'Render unto no man evil for evil'.
To me, for many years, the most moving part of any election has been the victor's declaration (not always made) to serve *all* his constituents, whether they voted for him or not – and my own (Labour) MP has been an exemplary follower of this principle, to my personal knowledge. Heaven help us if it is ever otherwise.
Most sensible pro-EU people now recognise that the vote went against them and that we must therefore leave the EU.
I have mocked those who did not recognise the outcomeof the referendum and fantasised about frustrating the result, reminding them of Brecht's joke about how, the people having failed the elite, the elite would like to elect a new people. Too bad. Once you accept the democratic principle, the majority is the absolute decider.
They, like those who wanted to leave, took part in the campaign on that basis. But of course it was never quite as simple as that , especially in a free, plural society with a de facto separation of powers, adversarial newspapers, law courts, a powerful civil service and the BBC,
Would leavers, had we lost, have accepted the vote? Yes. Would we have sunk back and given up all hope of leaving forever? I somehow doubt it. We would also have continued to seek to block many aspects of EU membership, such as Schengen and the Euro, Turkish or Ukrainian membership of the EU and any plans for a European Army.
Remainers are now doing the approximate equivalent. Do I blame them? No. What is more, they have quite a lot to work on. It is silly to pretend that they don't. Let me explain.
Be in no doubt that there are many and varied ways of achieving the apparently simple aim of leaving the EU. And that if that aim is badly messed up, there could one day even come a campaign to rejoin the EU, which will undo all you have achieved.
One of the many odd, unsatisfactory things about the referendum is that the movement which won it dissolved itself at the point of victory. We did not elect a new government (though we destroyed the old one, which has been replaced by a pale ghost of its former self). We cannot turn to the leaders of the 'Leave' campaign and say 'what exactly did you mean to do next?', because they are scattered to the winds, some in internal exile, some hidden inside the government, some fulminating in UKIP factions.
If we could ask them, what would they say? How deeply had they thought about the matter? Did they even have a unified position? Weren't some of them globalists who wanted Britain out of the protective embrace of the EU so it could be more open to the keen winds blowing from the far East?
Weren't others more my sort, who value Britain's special unique nature and didn't want to see it absorbed or erased or diluted either by the EU or by globalisation? These aren't really allies. they have a single negative desire - to get out of the EU. But their positive plans are hostile to each other.
Then there's the question of responsibility. Victory in an election (as those who take part well know) means that you are now personally in charge of keeping the promises you made. Victory in a referendum has no such automatic price. We did not elect a new government last June. We just robbed the existing government of the central pillar of most of its activity, and forced it to do something it didn't want to do and will do as slowly and unwillingly as it can. There is no force in British politics which can change that.
The Leave campaigners then either went home quietly, or began writing rude memoirs about their allies, or embarked on wild political manoeuvres, only to be rolled flat by the bizarre juggernaut of Theresa May, who inherited Downing Street because she had been vague and rather cowardly, and who was given the job of implementing a policy she opposed -presumably because she had opposed it more feebly than most.
We must also wonder, given their performance for many years before in front-line politics, whether *all* the major figures in the Leave campaign were in fact wholly committed to the cause they espoused; or whether they ever intended to win. I was utterly amazed when Alexander 'Boris' Johnson and Michael Gove declared themselves in favour of leaving. It was at that moment that my former certainty, that 'Remain' would win the vote, began to evaporate. I had actually argued with Mr Gove, many years before, that the main reason leaving the EU was unpopular was hat no leading politicians were in favour of it. The public therefore assumed that it was a dangerous policy. At the time, as I recall, he took the David Cameron view, that it was a marginal subject we shouldn't 'bang on' about.
Of course both sides were unscrupulous. But that's not worth worrying about. As so often, Larry Elliott of 'The Guardian' makes the key point very well. He disposes of Remainers' moans about the untruths told by the 'Leave' campaign here
But this frivolous disregard for truth (on both sides) was partly a consequence of the irresponsibility I mention above. As soon as the campaign was over, both sides bolted back to their normal homes and loyalties, like vandals discovered in mid-crime by the police, scattering down every available dark alleyway, never to meet again.
I also have to mention the amazing predicament of the Labour Party, whose leader was ideally positioned to do as little as he could to discourage his party's voters from registering a huge protest against mass immigration - one millions of them had been longing to make for years.
So, we have a narrow victory, based on unique circumstances, obtained largely by people who didn't know (and hadn't thought very hard about) what they were going to do next. Is this really a sound basis for a triumphalist parade? Not everyone on our side is brilliant and good. Not everyone on the other side is stupid or wicked. Fight them, by all means, but with reason and facts, not self-righteous rage. If the vote were held again now, it might just as easily go the other way. Is it wise to pretend to be unaware of that, or to think it just doesn't matter?
And now, as a nation and an economy, we are up against an EU in which at least one very skilful and dogged rival, France, will do all she can to do us down. France has several reasons to do this. Her establishment wants to squash Marine le Pen's Front National, and making an exit from the EU look hard and painful will help this process. Then there's the little matter of the Battles of Waterloo and Trafalgar, and French resentment (shared by Germany) of the continuing dominance of the City of London in European finance. Do you think they're going to be nice to us?
And is it really not worth noting that figures such as Christopher Booker, the most sustained and well-informed campaigner against British membership of the EU, are genuinely worried that we might damage ourselves if we seek too much, too fast? The attitude of some on this blog has been close to Stalinist in their empurpled unreasoning wrath. Any minute now I expect to hear voices accusing me and Christopher Booker of wrecking railroads and sabotage, and of being secret agents of Brussels.
Sure, economic logic dictates that they want our markets. But the EU has always been a political body, with economics coming second to politics, or how could they have agreed to merge their currencies? Politics comes first. They cannot make it easy or cheap for us to leave. There will be a price of some sort.
Finally, I'd mention (as I did in my Sunday article) the fact that the ghastly embodiment of cynicism, the Conservative Party is still in office in this country. This is a party which is very good at political murder, as Margaret Thatcher and Iain Duncan Smith could readily attest. Those Tories who push now for a hard and fast departure may find that Mrs May and her inner circle give them all the freedom they want, wait for them to fail, and then destroy them.
What might the result of that be? Let's speculate wildly. A catastrophic failure of negotiations, a British walk-out, or a an EU refusal to concede another inch, a run on Sterling (which is waiting to happen again anyway), a humiliating return to talks (on worse terms) and then perhaps that long-threatened election, fought as a second referendum on the half-hearted deal we eventually get?
I don't know, and nor do you. All I know is that I find the noisy, chest-thumping over-confidence of some Leavers increasingly hard to take. I think it is dangerous for the country and, regardless of whether anyone likes what I say or not, I am going to point this out.


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Explore 25 results by leading Australian Universities
- Philosophy
- La Trobe University
- Bachelor Degree
Course results for La Trobe University Bachelor Degree Philosophy Degrees
0 Saved degrees (to compare save at least 2)
LAT-ART-DEGPursue your passion and your profession
A flexible arts degree offering a large selection of humanities and social sciences majors. Mix it up with minors and electives in business, health, and science. Develop critical thinking, emotional intelligence, creativity, and communication skills.
100% online
3 years full time or part time equivalent
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Available majors
- Archaeological and Heritage Studies,
- Creative and Professional Writing,
- Crime, Justice and Legal Studies,
- Digital Media,
- English,
- Hindi Studies Beginners,
- History,
- Human Geography,
- Linguistics,
- Philosophy,
- Politics,
- Psychological Science,
- Sociology,
- Sustainability and Development,
- Visual Cultures
Need help choosing a course?
Find a time that suits you for a free 1:1 consultation with a student advisor.


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The same smooth thick card that is a feature of our Holkham wedding stationery has one again been used for the personalised table number cards and just like the other items these cards, which are digitally printed, would normally print in black ink. Should you prefer another colour then simply let us know your colour preference when you place your order.
For this design we have chosen a substantial 350gsm card. This table number card measures approximately 8.3" x 5.8" / 210mm x 148mm (A5).
Print Process: Digital (flat printed)
Card Size: A5, 210 x 148mm.
Card Choices: Smooth White 350gsm.
Choice of 4 ink colours
The production impact of the papers we use is measured and reduced at every possible opportunity - from forest management to energy use - making this beautiful paper a positive force toward a balanced environment.
As well as being fully recyclable and biodegradable, the paper we use has FSC certification, meaning that the pulps used are all from managed forests. It is also Heavy Metal Free and, because the bleaching process avoids the use of harmful chlorine, it is classified ECF.
Upon receipt of your order we will email a pdf proof to you within 1 working day. We will be happy to amend this proof should you wish to make any changes.
Printing Time
Please note that when you order personalised stationery, you order will only go into print, once you have approved your proof. Following approval it will take approximately 10 working days to produce your stationery. It is then passed on to our courier for delivery to your address.
United Kingdom
Express Domestic 1-3 days
Free Shipping on orders over £200.00
Express International 2-11 days = $25.00
Free Shipping on orders over $250.00
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Express International 2-7 days = €14.95
Express International 2-7 days = DKK 120.00
Express International 2-7 days = SEK 175.00
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Express International 2-7 days = CHF 14.95
Express International 2-11 days A$50
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Express International 2-11 days = £29.9
Customs & Duties Charges
For all orders delivered in UK VAT is charged at 20%. Any Customs, Duties or Handling Charges that may be levied in the country of destination are beyond our control and we are unable to accept any responsibility for these.


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Mitigation and Preparedness
Earthquake Prevention and Preparedness in California
"Preparedness Now" short film
Up-and-coming film director, motion graphics designer and Art Center College of Design alumnus, Theo Alexopoulos, takes you on a visceral journey through the USGS 2008 ShakeOut Earthquake Scenario. This current version is adapted from the original created for The Great Southern California ShakeOut (reference to Nov. 13, 2008 has been removed). The film was created by the USGS Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project in cooperation with the Designmatters program at Art Center to depict the physical, social, and economic consequences of the most comprehensive earthquake scenario ever created. The film gives the viewers a sense of what will be happening and inspires them to prepare and mitigate for a faster recovery. The premise underlying the film is that design is a powerful catalyst that can bridge the divide between scientific understanding about damaging quakes, and the ability of the public to feel empowered and to change their behavior in terms of preparedness.
ShakeOut Drill Broadcast
Audio and Video recordings created to provide instructions during your Drop, Cover, Hold On drill.
ShakeOut Public Service Announcements (UPDATED FOR 2009)
View on the ShakeOut YouTube Channel:


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My Soul Waits for the Lord
A Song of mAscents.
130 Out of cthe depths I cry to you, O Lord!
2 O Lord, hear my voice!
dLet your ears be attentive
to ethe voice of my pleas for mercy!
3 If you, O Lord, should fmark iniquities,
O Lord, who could gstand?
4 But with you there is hforgiveness,
ithat you may be feared.
5 I jwait for the Lord, kmy soul waits,
and lin his word I hope;
6 my soul mwaits for the Lord
more than nwatchmen for othe morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
7 O Israel, phope in the Lord!
For qwith the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will rredeem Israel
from all his iniquities.
I Have Calmed and Quieted My Soul
A Song of mAscents. Of David.
131 O Lord, my heart is not slifted up;
my eyes are not traised too high;
I do not uoccupy myself with things
too great and vtoo marvelous for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned wchild with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 xO Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.
The Lord Has Chosen Zion
A Song of mAscents.
132 Remember, O Lord, in David's favor,
all ythe hardships he endured,
2 how he swore to the Lord
and zvowed to athe Mighty One of Jacob,
3 "I will not enter my house
or get into my bed,
4 I will not bgive sleep to my eyes
or slumber to my eyelids,
5 until I cfind a place for the Lord,
a dwelling place for athe Mighty One of Jacob."
6 Behold, we heard of it in dEphrathah;
we found it in ethe fields of Jaar.
7 "Let us go to his dwelling place;
8 hArise, O Lord, and go to your iresting place,
you and the ark of your jmight.
9 Let your kpriests be lclothed with righteousness,
and let your msaints shout for joy.
10 For the sake of your servant David,
11 pThe Lord swore to David a sure oath
qfrom which he will not turn back:
r"One of the sons of your body1
I will set on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant
and my testimonies that I shall teach them,
their sons also forever
shall ssit on your throne."
13 For the Lord has tchosen Zion;
he has udesired it for his dwelling place:
14 "This is my vresting place forever;
here I will wdwell, for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly xbless her provisions;
I will ysatisfy her poor with bread.
16 Her zpriests I will clothe with salvation,
and her zsaints will shout for joy.
17 There I will make aa horn to sprout for David;
I have prepared ba lamp for cmy anointed.
18 His enemies I will dclothe with shame,
but on him his crown will shine."
When Brothers Dwell in Unity
A Song of mAscents. Of David.
133 Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when ebrothers dwell in unity!1
2 It is like the precious foil on gthe head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on hthe collar of his robes!
3 It is like ithe dew of jHermon,
which falls on kthe mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord lhas commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.
Come, Bless the Lord
A Song of mAscents.
134 Come, bless the Lord, all you mservants of the Lord,
who nstand oby night in the house of the Lord!
2 pLift up your hands to qthe holy place
and bless the Lord!
3 May the Lord rbless you sfrom Zion,
he who tmade heaven and earth!


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06/10/2022 – Middlesex, NJ: We've just received the latest offering from Nike Vision and what their new lineup of Nike glasses look like. We're already pleased to say that Nike Vision hasn't disappointed us at all here.
As an official distributor for Nike Vision and all their Nike prescription sports glasses, it's always a great time for us when we're able to talk about these new products.
Nike Vision is known for its right blend of high-quality frames built for a sportive and active lifestyle. That means you're talking about aesthetically beautiful frames and designs with the right functionality to keep those glasses on through the heat.
Nike 7145 Glasses
The first Nike glasses we're going to talk about here are the Nike 7145. When it comes to sizing, these are perfectly in the middle of the road. Many of our frames have a range of whether they fit on one size or another, but the Nike 7145 prescription sport glasses are built specifically for a medium-sized face. All the measurements attest to that, making them a clear choice for those with that face size.
These are built with rectangular frames and come in four two-toned color options. The primary color options are Matte Black, Black, Dark Grey, or Matte Obsidian, yet their secondary color is a pop of color against the darker frame options.
Nike 7258
These Nike glasses are the perfect option for those with a larger face. They're also a great unisex option. We've got the Nike 7258 in several styles to cater to whatever design one is looking for. These Nike glasses come in varied tones from Solid Matte Black and Dark Grey to Mystic Navy and Clear color options, except for the Tortoise option.
These are more of a square frame that comes with a saddle bridge and nose pads to help provide maximum comfort through a day of rigorous sporting activities.
Nike 7305
Our final new Nike prescription sports glasses are the Nike 7305 model. This frame has an oval shape, shifting from Nike glasses that are primarily square or rectangular in shape. The frame size is perfect again for those with medium faces, and the color scheme is geared towards sharper, darker tones.
With colors such as Matte Black and Iron Stone, these are the perfect option for the serious sports enthusiast looking for a high-quality pair of Nike prescription sports glasses he can wear all day, every day, without feeling any discomfort or pressure.
As always, when it comes to Nike Vision and Nike glasses, these are an excellent addition to Nike Vision's growing collection of Nike prescription sports glasses, as well as our own collection here at RX safety.
You'll want to take a look at all of our Nike glasses, whether for adults or kids glasses and know that we're always picking the best options based on what type of Nike glasses we've sold in the past and combine them with the current trends in the prescription sports glasses industry.
About Us:
Rx Safety is an American manufacturer of affordable prescription safety glasses and performance eyewear. A family-owned and operated business, with a state-of-the-art digital ophthalmic lab and the online store providing affordable, top-of-the-line prescription safety glasses, sunglasses, and performance eyewear on the market. All the safety glasses always meet or exceed the ANSI Z87+ standards for high impact, to be safe and secure while working in any kind of hazardous environment. Besides standard safety glasses, we offer a broad selection of prescription shooting and tactical glasses, prescription youth sports glasses, fishing, and motorcycle glasses designed and tested to meet our high standards. As an authorized distributor of Wiley X, Bobster, ESS, and BodySpecs, Rx-Safety.com offers a full line of prescription safety glasses straight from the manufacturer at wholesale prices. Feel free to call at 732-356-1493 or email at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Like us: https://www.facebook.com/RxSafety/
Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/rx_safety/
Subscribe us: https://www.youtube.com/user/RXSafetyVideos/
Retweet us: https://twitter.com/RXSafetyEyewear/
Contact Detail:
Company Name: RX Safety Glasses
Contact Person: Ryan Phillips
Email: Send Email
Address: 123 Lincoln Blvd, Middlesex
State: NJ 08846
Country: United States
Website Url: https://rx-safety.com/
Source: www.PRExhibition.com


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'Sisters' Trailer: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Throw a House Party
If there's one movie you're excited about on December 18 this year it's...probably Star Wars: The Force Awakens. But, if there are two movies you're excited about on December 18, the other one should definitely be Sisters, starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. The former SNL co-stars and Golden Globes hosts reteam for the only comedy bold enough to take on Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, and we've got the first trailer for you.
Truth be told, it's a little disappointing that Sisters is opening up against The Force Awakens. A Tina Fey/Amy Poehler comedy feels like an event in its own right and doesn't deserve to be trampled by a force from a galaxy far, far away. But, in a bit of counterprogramming, this just might work.
Despite their hilarious work together over the years (and we'll even include the so-so Baby Mama in that list), this trailer didn't quite produce the level of laughs that we had hoped. Still, the film boasts an impressive enough comedy pedigree that we're willing to put our trust in this movie, regardless of this footage. (Neighbors, one of the best comedies of last year, also produced mostly lackluster trailers.)
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler reunite for Sisters, a new film from Pitch Perfect director Jason Moore about two disconnected sisters summoned home to clean out their childhood bedroom before their parents sell the family house. Looking to recapture their glory days, they throw one final high-school-style party for their classmates, which turns into the cathartic rager that a bunch of ground-down adults really need.
With Poehler and Fey now retired from their successful stint as Golden Globes hosts, this may be one of the last times we get to see these two working together. That may not be enough to bump Star Wars from your first choice that weekend, but we think these sisters are still worth a visit.


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Whenever cooks tell me that they followed instructions to a tee and their soufflé didn't rise, my guess is that the bowl in which they whipped the egg whites wasn't clean enough. I have a rare opportunity to watch 60+ people wash dishes on monthly basis. No, I don't search for "washing dishes" on YouTube. I teach cooking classes, and dirty dishes are an inevitable side effect. Here is what I've noticed -- most people rinse dishes, they don't wash them. Two factors contribute to this lack of thoroughness -- over-reliance on dishwashers and not owning the dishes being washed.
Dishwashers only go so far. You still need to scrub any pieces of food or dough off the dishes before loading them into that magic box. If you've ever pulled a supposedly clean bowl with dried up oatmeal out of a dishwasher, you know what I mean.
Now about ownership. Obviously, the people washing dishes in a cooking class don't feel particularly invested in their cleanliness. When they are everyone's dishes, they are no one's dishes. Communal ownership leads to failure of way bigger things than souffles. So, own that bowl! Don't rely on your spouse, boy-friend, girl-friend, kid, friend, or room-mate even if they are the primary dish washer in your household. If you want your souffle to rise, roll up your sleeves, get the sponge nice and soapy and scrub the heck out of that bowl. Be just as thorough when you rinse it, and make sure the towel used for drying is perfectly clean (I suggest using paper towels). If there is as much as a spec of grease on that bowl, the whites won't whip properly. Some recipes suggest rubbing the inside of the perfectly clean and dry bowl with lemon juice or vinegar and wiping it dry, but I never find this necessary if the bowl is washed well in the first place.
Good. You have a clean bowl and hopefully you got yourself into a meticulous enough frame of mind necessary for making soufflés. Now let's talk about separating eggs. Separate them one at a time dropping the white into a small bowl, and collecting all the yolks in another bowl. Only dump the white into the mixer bowl if the yolk was removed intact. Since the yolk is mostly fat any trace of it will not let the whites whip properly. The best way to break eggs is to tap them on the counter, and then open them gently with your thumbs. Breaking eggs on the side of a bowl usually increases the likelihood that you'll get little pieces of shell into the egg or damage the yolk.
If you are thinking that there has to be more to soufflés than a clean bowl and correctly separated eggs, you are right. Here are a few more tips:
- Bring the white to room temperature before whipping
- Whip the whites right before folding them in, not in advance
- Stop whipping the whites as soon as you get stiff peaks of they'll curdle
- Don't smudge the soufflé molds after buttering them and sprinkling with bread crumbs or cheese (or sugar for sweet soufflés). If you take good care of your molds, the soufflé will rise straight up and won't look like a leaning tower of Pisa.
- Don't open the oven door for the first 20 minutes no matter how much you want to take a peak.
- Invite your guests to the table 10 minutes before the souffle could possibly be ready. You don't want people to decide they need to use the bathroom or make a phone call or start arguing about who'll win this election when there is a soufflé to be eaten. You only have a couple of minutes before your work of art starts to fall.
Cheese Soufflé (and the master recipe for any savory soufflé)
Serves 6-8
Step 1: Mis en place (that's the cooking term for "getting organized")
- Wash a large mixer bowl (see the washing instructions above).
- Go through all the steps to figure out what ingredients you'll need and measure them.
- This is a good time to get the eggs out of the fridge and to separate them (see the separating instructions above). Collect all the yolks in one small bowl and all the whites in the large mixer bowl. Keep them at room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
Step 2: Preparing the baking dish(es)
- one 8-cup soufflé dish (4 inches deep)
- or six 8 oz ramekins with straight sides
- or eight 6 oz ramekins
- Butter
- 1/4 - 3/4 cup unflavored dry breadcrumbs or finely grated Parmesan (the fewer dishes you are using, the less you'll need)
Step 3: Making the base
The base for most savory soufflés is a thick Béchamel Sauce mixed with a flavoring (like cheese, spinach, butternut squash, etc). Once you master the basic recipe, feel free to improvise with the flavoring. If using a vegetable purée make sure it's seasoned generously with salt.
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups boiling milk
- 1/2 tsp table salt (or 1 tsp Diamond Crystal Kosher or 3/4 tsp Morton's Kosher)
- 1/8 tsp white pepper (you can substitute black)
- Pinch of nutmeg
- 1 1/4 cup lightly packed grated Gruyere (or some other cheese or vegetable purée)
- 6 large egg yolks
- Set a medium-size, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and wait for it to melt. Add the flour and cook stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Regulate heat so that the flour doesn't brown. Remove from heat.
- When the mixture stops bubbling, add the boiling milk (it has to be boiling, not just warm) and whisk vigorously with a wire whip until blended. Stir in the salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Return to medium heat and boil for 1 minute, whisking constantly. Sauce will be very thick. Take off heat and cool to room temperature.
- Stir in the cheese (or a vegetable purée) and the eggs adding them one at a time. Mix thoroughly.
- 8 large egg whites, at room temperature
- A pinch of salt
- 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
- Add the cream of tartar and salt to the egg whites, and start beating them on low speed with a whisk mixer attachment. When frothy, increase the speed to medium and beat until soft peaks form. Increase the speed to high. Beat until the peaks are stiff, but not dry. Do not over beat or the whites will become clumpy.
- Use a rubber spatula to fold one-quarter of the egg whites into the Béchamel base. Then fold in the rest of the whites. Folding is not stirring! Here is a video on how to fold in the whites correctly. The reason you don't add the whites all at once is to lighten the base first and make the consistencies of the base and the whites more compatible.
Pour the mixture into the prepared soufflé dish or ramekins, tap them gently on the table and smooth the top with the flat of a knife.
Ahead-of-time note: If you are not ready to put the soufflé in the oven immediately, it can wait in a warm, draft-free place, covered with an inverted large bowl or pot for up to 1 hour.
Place the souffé in the middle of the oven and don't open the oven door for at least 20 minutes. Large soufflés take 40-45 minutes until they are puffy, browned, and cooked through. Individual ones take 20-25 minutes for 8 oz ramekins, and 17-20 for 6 oz ramekins. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
If you want to learn more about soufflés, I highly recommend Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking and the 1997 edition of the Joy of Cooking.