text:
Blondies, as I have mentioned before, are a kind of bar cookie that spans the gap between a regular chocolate chip-type cookie and a brownie. They are typically made with a plain (i.e. nonchocolate) dough that has plenty of mixed in chocolate chips, nuts or dried fruits, but have a dense and fudgy texture that is most often associated with brownies.
My inspiration to make blondies was from a picture that Joe had up on Culinary in the Country. In his batch of blondies, which included cinnamon and chocolate chips, it was easy to see the signature texture of the blondie – the moist and almost fudgy center that sets them apart from a regular cookie. I based my recipe on his, using just a touch less butter and sugar, but still excluding a leavening agent (much as I did in making my Peppermint Cookies and Cream Brownies to prevent the batter from loosing it rich and dense texture during baking. I also used my Baker's Edge pan, and as expected, each piece turned out to be perfectly done with it.
The blondies turned out to be chewy and delicious, and while they were not nearly as fudgy as brownies, they still managed to give the impression that you're eating something more than just a cookie. They're perfect with a big glass of milk. The focal point of this batch was the large amount of chopped dark chocolate-covered cranberries that I mixed into the dough. I ended up adding a handful of extra dried cranberries for some extra tartness and if you don't have chocolate-covered berries, go ahead and split the amount given below between chopped dark chocolate and plain dried cranberries.
Dark Chocolate Cranberry Blondies
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups dark chocolate covered cranberries, chopped
(or 1 1/2 cups of a mix of chopped dark chocolate and dried cranberries)
Preheat oven to 350F.
Lightly grease the Baker's Edge pan (or a 9×13-inch baking dish).
In a large mixing bowl, stir together butter and sugars. Beat in eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract. Stir in flour and salt, mixing just until no streaks of flour remain, then add in dark chocolate covered cranberries. Pour into prepared pan and spread evenly with a spatula.
Bake for about 27-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is a light golden brown. If using a 9×13, the brownies may be slightly thinner, so be sure to check them early; it is better to check once or twice than to have overdone blondies.
Cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Makes about 20 blondies.


text:
Resveratrol is a plant compound with potent antioxidant functionality. Resveratrol is found mainly in red wine, red grapes, berries, and peanuts. It is most concentrated in the skin of grape skins and seeds.
Resveratrol has been linked to many exciting health benefits, such as lowering cholesterol, supporting brain health, and help controlling weight loss.These, coupled with antioxidant abilities, make the perfect daily supplement.
Ingredients: Resveratrol (Polygonum cuspidatum)(root) Complex Containing 50% Trans-Resveratrol, Vegetable Capsule (Cellulose), Microcrystalline Cellulose.
Manufacturer Country: USA
Product Amount: 60 caps
Gross Weight: 0.25lb (113g)
Suggested Use: Take one (1) veggie capsule twice a day as a dietary supplement. For best results, take 20-30 min before a meal or as directed by your healthcare professional.
Caution: Do not exceed recommended dose. Pregnant or nursing mothers, children under the age of 18, and individuals with a known medical condition should consult a physician before using this or any dietary supplement.
Warning: Keep out of reach of children. Do not use if the safety seal is damaged or missing. Store in a cool, dry place.
Not Certified Doping Free*
The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This privacy policy is for this website www.iflash.xyz and governs the privacy of its users who choose to use it.
If you are an European citizen residing within the European Economic Area ("EEA"), please read our GDPR privacy policy.
The policy sets out the different areas where user privacy is concerned and outlines the obligations & requirements of the users and the website. Furthermore the way this website processes, stores and protects user data and information will also be detailed within this policy.
The Website
This website takes a proactive approach to user privacy and ensure the necessary steps are taken to protect the privacy of its users throughout their visiting experience. This website complies to all UK national laws and requirements for user privacy.
We do not store credit card details nor do we share customer details with any 3rd parties. All information provided to us by placing an order is only used to fulfill your request.
Use of Cookies
This website uses cookies to better the users experience while visiting the site. Where applicable this website uses a cookie control system making the user on their first visit to the website aware of the use of cookies. This complies with recent legislation requirements for websites to obtain consent from users before leaving behind or reading files such as cookies on a user's computer / device.
Cookies are small files saved to the user's device that track, save and store information about the user's interactions and usage of the website. This allows the website, through its server to provide the users with a tailored experience within this website.
Users are advised that if they wish to deny the use and saving of cookies from this website on to their device they should take necessary steps within their web browsers security settings to block all cookies from this website and its external serving vendors.
This website also uses cookies to analyse user activity. This feature is provided by Google Analytics which uses cookies to track visitor usage. The software will save a cookie to your computers hard drive in order to track and monitor your engagement and usage of the website, but will not store, save or collect personal information. You can read Google's privacy policy here for further information [ https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/partners ].
Contact & Communication
Users contacting this website and/or its owners do so at their own discretion. Your personal information is kept private and stored securely until a time it is no longer required. Every effort has been made to ensure a safe and secure form to email submission process but advise users using such form to email processes that they do so at their own risk.
This website and its owners use any information submitted to assist you in answering any questions or queries you may have submitted. You can subscribe or be notified of any response or update to a comment you make or an article you read, if you choose to do this your email and contact information will be used for this purpose only.
Your details are not passed on to any third parties.
External Links
Although this website only looks to include quality, safe and relevant external links, users are advised adopt a policy of caution before clicking any external web links mentioned throughout this website. (External links are clickable text / banner / image links to other websites).
The owners of this website cannot guarantee or verify the contents of any externally linked website. Users should therefore note they click on external links at their own risk and this website and its owners cannot be held liable for any damages or implications caused by visiting any external links mentioned.
Adverts and Sponsored Links
This website may contain sponsored links and adverts. These will typically be served through our advertising partners, to whom may have detailed privacy policies relating directly to the adverts they serve.
Clicking on any such adverts will send you to the advertisers website through a referral program which may use cookies and will track the number of referrals sent from this website. This may include the use of cookies which may in turn be saved on your computers hard drive. Users should therefore note they click on sponsored external links at their own risk and this website and its owners cannot be held liable for any damages or implications caused by visiting any external links mentioned.


text:
Cracker: Breaking the Silence
61 Responses
First ←Older Page 1 2 3 Newer→ Last
linger, in reply to
corruption favours the disenfranchised
That has never happened in all of human history. Corruption overwhelmingly favours those who have power.
Ray Gilbert, in reply to
Greenpeace are so far proving more effective than any hypothetical priesthood of ordained scientists.
Don't forget that Greenpeace have also made errors of judgement around information in the past. Brent Spar anyone?
Not so sure about the council of elders idea myself either. Decades of working with and around a large number of scientists has taught me, that like all other collective groups they contain a full spectrum of types. Some are more interested in developing knowledge, others use selected knowledge for their own purpose, some are more self sacrificing, others less so.
Moz, in reply to
Corruption overwhelmingly favours those who have power.
But not all those who have power. Filipino housemate is a big fan of Duterte because after Marcos things went downhill there. Apparently a murderous vigilante might be less corrupt than the current incumbent, and he thinks it's worth the tradeoff.
A possibly more interesting question is whether having "secret science" running the country would be better than "secret wealth". Especially since in the plutocracy we currently enjoy those seem to be implacably opposed sides.
Joe Wylie, in reply to
Don't forget that Greenpeace have also made errors of judgement around information in the past. Brent Spar anyone?
True dat. Having just finished Silencing Science (thanks for the link Sacha) I can't see Damian's "half joking" proposal for "being ruled by a benevolent wise council of elders" as anything other than some kind of throwaway exercise.
Shaun Hendy makes a case for a thoroughly democratically based engagement by scientists with the public, grounded in mutual respect. While he seems under no illusions about the nature of the vested interests ranked against the free flow of information, he even provides examples of where he believes that he and other scientists have mishandled communication in the past.
While he seems careful to give Sir Peter Gluckman his due in his role as John Key's science advisor, he goes into plenty of useful detail about how he believes that the limitations of the position have failed the public. His advocacy for the role to be balanced by the public having their own non-partisan equivalent, modeled on the present Commissioner for the Environment, is convincingly made.
Given the disastrous performance of the largely politically appointed ECAN, I really can't fathom why anyone would come away from reading Silencing Science to advocate for shoulder-tapping a bunch of suitable chaps and chapesses to further erode democracy.
andin, in reply to
Yeah I put an "if" in there you didnt quote
andin, in reply to
An articulate person would likely recieve a greater benefit than a stoic
Making up examples? In your world are the poor articulate? Met a few articulate scammers in my time, the best were beggars in the USA. I knew they were scamming me but their act was so well done it was worth the money :))
Every little bit helps I guess -
BenWilson, in reply to
I just mean that it'd be great if many of our important national decisions were a bit more evidence-based rather than contrary to evidence, or based on ideology.
To that I fully agree. My own hope is that as time passes, this already is happening. There's setbacks, definitely. But the overall trend is for scientific thinking to become far more prevalent and trusted. No need to force it too fast, and thus break other aspects of the system. But how fast is too fast? Tough one, as I originally said. A democratic system held back by the unreason of vast quantities of people is a slow thing to move, and in the meantime there's stupid people taking the flouride out of town water supplies. I can see the appeal of it being institutionally hard for them to do that, on account of the sheer weight of scientific evidence about the human cost involved.
BenWilson, in reply to
it's more than a little troubling to directly compare a model where you're literally asked to take everything on faith, with a model where your results ultimately only survive if your peers can't tear them apart.
If your model is some chain of command over science, then you could quite literally set a up a model where the peers can't tear apart falsehood, because they're not even peers any more. Furthermore, one could argue that the divine authority of Popes only came from a peer review in which they were selected by a council of wise religious elders. As I understand it, this is exactly how the Pope is elected.
But yes, I think the discussion is more than a little academic. I doubt that scientists themselves would really want such a model. A top position would presumably have a term attached, and other processes for early removal on grounds of wrongdoing. It could presumably be designed to be robust to empire building. Rather like democratic institutions already are. But, if modeled that way, such an organization would ultimately be a democracy, and it would thus have many of the same failings anyway - inertia, mass stupidity, etc. But I can see that something like that could be built. Would love to see a proposal, with the detail, and all the devils therein.
If you look internationally at the sort of scientists who've achieved high political influence in the past, you see the likes of Frederick Lindemann or Edward Teller.
I don't think a ruling body of such wise people would be a good idea.
BenWilson, in reply to
I'd be more than a little worried about Sir Isaac Newton being in charge of the Mint, that's for sure. Charming fellow, he brought back the ancient punishment of being hung, drawn and quartered for the crime of counterfeiting, and then hung around bars catching counterfeiters personally. Loved his work, apparently.
Ian Dalziel, in reply to
Just going through the motions...
Sir Isaac Newton being in charge of the Mint ... Loved his work, apparently.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree?
;- ) -
andin, in reply to
don't think a ruling body of such wise people would be a good idea
Damian has said it was a throwaway line. but onward...
Um how can you tell if someone, anyone has wisdom that will be applicable to running the world as we know it.
Well they wont, easy answer. Its always going to be a guess, informed guess is the best we get.
Govts really got a kick upstairs because a portion of the worlds population got sick of being screwed over by the power possessing being in Europe at the time and they could go to a new world and start a new system. We no longer have that luxury.
So whats the way forward?
Is there one?
Funny thing! At a time when we need cooperation on a large scale and some selflessness and humility individually. A philosophy of selfishness and arrogance gains a foothold in the minds of not just our leaders but a large fraction of the population.
Yep If there is a mighty & gracious being looking on in the fabric of space time, besides pissing itself in mirth, must be wondering" WTF! When I get my hands on that Ayn Rand....."
And I'd rather take my chances with scientists informing decisions -
Marc C, in reply to
They (MSD and the government) claim that they are working with individuals based on their needs, and give them "wrap around services", which is actually nothing much more than "intensive case management", working along with individuals based on certain contracts of course.
I agree, the science is lacking, it is largely based on surveys and statistics, with limited value, as was proved before:
https://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2015/08/09/msd-and-dr-david-bratt-present-misleading-evidence-claiming-worklessness-causes-poor-health/Yet the Associate Minister was very defensive and denied any failures:
http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/business/qoa/51HansQ_20150917_00000008/8-welfare-reforms%E2%80%94mental-health-and-sole-parent-employmentAnd we are still now waiting for the evaluation report, which according to Jo Goodhew was supposed to be made available by end of last year, which never happened. Here are some of her not so true answers:
"Hon JO GOODHEW: As I have already said in my primary answer, the full mid-point evaluation is still being undertaken and is yet to be completed. What I do know is that the Government is not afraid to try some new approaches, and, therefore, in order to do so, we have to undertake the trials, let them get to the end of the time, and be evaluated properly."An evaluation was originally overdue by September, but was never presented (Hence Carmel Sepuloni's questions). What is this talk about "mid point evaluation", when the trials run out mid this year (2016) after having run for over two years now? Just more obfuscation and BS.
"Hon JO GOODHEW: These people are all voluntarily in these trials—the member has obviously missed that point—so we are not experimenting on them."
For Sole Parent beneficiaries there is nothing "voluntary" re such trials. For mental health sufferers, it is officially "voluntary", but there are other implied pressures they get, e.g. refusing to participate in any measures that assist in getting work ready may lead to sanctions, and refusing participation outright, will not be looked upon kindly.
Since these last major welfare reforms were introduced there has been very little info shared with media or even via OIA requests, and MSD have refrained from going on too much about the "science" behind it all. I wonder why, have they stuff to hide, is it not as "robust" as first thought? Bad news do often get swept under the carpet, and failed "evidence based" new policy is quietly discarded again, never mind the ones they experimented with:
https://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2015/11/27/msds-selective-and-poor-responses-to-new-oia-requests-on-benefits-advisors-reports-mental-health-and-sole-parent-employment-services/ -
Don Christie, in reply to
I'd be quite happy being ruled by a benevolent wise council of elders.
That could work. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_of_Four
Joe Wylie, in reply to
That could work.
Heh. Further to that, I found this to be a rippingly good read.
Spare us from those who know better than we what's best for us. -
Rich Lock, in reply to
it would thus have many of the same failings anyway - inertia, mass stupidity, etc.
Humans gonna human.
Which is why I'll be advocating for a ruling council composed only of three benevolent AI overlords (triple redundancy, y'see). Remove the messy meatsacks, with their terrible signal-to-noise ratio of egos, feelings, and desires, from the equation altogether. All decisions made cleanly and clinically for our own collective good.
Remain calm, citizen. Nothing can possibly go wrong.
linger, in reply to
If an intervention is not assigned randomly to individuals, if evaluation criteria are not set in advance, and if equivalent data is not collected for those not receiving the intervention, then it is not a trial, and the results cannot be interpreted as such. Sounds like none of that is happening here, so any report can only be a farce.
Brent Jackson, in reply to
The computer is your friend.
Marc C, in reply to
I agree, and what you say proves, that we are being conned on a massive scale, with pseudo science, or at least selectively chosen "evidence based" reports, which have little value, despite of supposed peer reviews by the researchers' colleagues from a like minded school of thought.
Re "evaluation", I suppose they mean, comparing the job placement figures with those that they had on their books before, who were not getting such interventions. It is all just a cost focus that they have on this now, hence this fancy calculation of the prospective billions in welfare costs over persons' lifetime, that is the sum of them being on welfare support.
The medical and social science had to make way for the actuarial approach, the only "science" that counts for this government, it seems.
Honest and true scientists will detect the huge holes in this kind of "Swiss cheese" we have here. Holes where you can drive a truck through. Spin, misrepresentation, manipulation, intimidation, obfuscation and censorship, some from government ministers, some internal, from management, but also peer pressure, and we get what we have, going as far as Radio NZ considering abolishing a well respected science program.
In Silencing Science Shaun Hendy mentions the Herald's Jamie Morton as one of NZ's dwindling number of specialist science journalists. This interview is from the Sunday before last.
andin, in reply to
Phewww there some reading there.
Spin, misrepresentation, manipulation, intimidation, obfuscation and censorship, some from government ministers, some internal, from management, but also peer pressure,
That about sums it up.Yet it is dressed up as science. An abuse of the word, and a beacon for what not to do...
It feels as if it needs a grade and comment... C- Can do better -
Sacha, in reply to
so any report can only be a farce
Rosemary McDonald, in reply to
The medical and social science had to make way for the actuarial approach,
Well, second time in a week I've heard that.
The first time was from a (paid by the government) disability advocate, quelling discussion about adverse effects on disabled people of government policy and legislation.
I was a tad confused at the time Marc C...thanks for untangling that. ;-)
Sacha, in reply to
disability advocate, quelling discussion
Feel free to name names. It has long suited governments to pretend homogeneity without resourcing community engagement to verify that.
Angela Hart, in reply to
at a strategy review meeting perchance?
Post your response…
This topic is closed.


text:
I was browsing around Tumblr this morning, medical like I do (because how do you start a day without spending some time on Tumblr) and I saw a post talking about YA high fantasy and it had SO many of my favorites. I was trying to think of something to write for the Tuesday Top Ten today and it just presented itself to me so easily.
I must admit, thumb as I wrote this list, I discovered TWO things: One, I really need to read more high fantasy (recommend some, please!) and two, I am majorly biased on one particular author…but that's okay.
10. The Beka Cooper Trilogy
Books: Terrier, Bloodhound, Mastiff
Beka Cooper is the ancestor of George Cooper (who is massively important in Pierce's first series, which, duh, is on the list), and she joins the Provost Dogs, which is basically like a police force. As the books go on, she becomes one of the most prominent and well trusted of the Dogs, solving crimes and taking down criminals. The story is told in diary form, which was a new thing for Tamora Pierce.
Its awesome. Anything Tammy does is basically magic, but what I love about this is you know how history plays out after this already. Her first four Tortall series all take place years after this so you know the direction its going in, but its still so fun. I think that Tamora Pierce has a wonderful way of writing fantastically strong characters but sometimes we convince ourselves that Daine and Kel and Aly are only able to have their stories because of all the things Alanna accomplished in the first series. But telling Beka's story really tells us that women had a lot more power, and possibility in the past until obviously something went wrong. Plus these stories are so different than the others. Beka has to prove herself, not really as a capable woman, like the others, but just a capable person in general. And the crimes she solves, the mysteries that unravel are all so fun.
9. The Immortals Quartet
Books: Wild Magic, Wolf Speaker, Emperor Mage, The Realms of the Gods
Daine is trying to escape her home country of Galla, where she was treated as a pariah, an abomination for the "sickness" she believes is inside her. When she is brought on as an assistant horse handler on the way to Tortall, she discovers that she's not crazy, but she has a rare bit of magic in here called wild magic, which gives her the ability to communicate with animals, heal them and even shape shift. Under the tutelage of the realms most powerful mage, Numair, she learns to control her magic and when her new home in Tortall is threatened by immortal creatures, she must learn to use her powers to help save her home and her friends.
I mean, can you really go wrong with this book? There's magic and animals and cute boys and kissing and battles and its a GREAT series. Tammy blew my MIND with this one. I love Daine because before Daine, we had Alanna, who was great but didn't get to be a girl as often because she was pretending to be a boy, so Daine was awesome. I loved when she was able to give up her dresses for breeches, and when she discovered she could heal animals. I love that we see old characters from Alanna's series and I love the whole idea of these immortal creatures like spidrens and centaurs and stormwings. Daine's story is absolutely fantastic.
8. The Protector of the Small Quartet
Books: First Test, Page, Squire, Lady Knight
In Kel's book, the law has been changed and girls can go out for their knighthood, instead of hiding their sex the way Alanna does in her series. This is the moment that Kel has been waiting for but its tainted when the king grants her permission to come to the palace to try, under the condition that she have a probationary year, something no boy has. Not only does Kel have to prove herself as a knight, but that she belongs there amongst the boys.
What I love about Kel's story is that it seems like it could be a repeat of Alanna's story but it most definitely is not. Kel has a whole new adventure to go through. Alanna had to prove herself, yes, but everyone thought she was a boy. Kel is a girl, and on probation and has to work even harder than all the boys do. On top of that, her page master treats her differently and her fellow pages tease her, and play jokes on her, all to try and get her kicked out. I think Kel's story is sometimes easier to relate to than Alanna's. I like how it starts off with Kel being bullied and being angry that she and others are getting bullied and turns into a larger story when Scanra comes chopping at the Tortall borders. Kel always wants to take down the bullies, no matter how big or small, and I love her story.
7. The Girl of Fire and Thorns Trilogy
Books: The Girl of Fire and Thorns, The Crown of Embers, The Bitter Kingdom
Elisa was born with a godstone in her belly button, marking her as a chosen one, to do amazing things in the world. However, Elisa feels so much less than a chosen one. She's massively overweight, not pretty, and constantly in the shadow of her older sister. When she is married off to a neighboring kingdom's king, who is devastatingly handsome, she doubts she'll ever reach her supposed amazing potential. Then she is kidnapped, by revolutionaries, and she suddenly sees how much more she is capable of and what she really could accomplish.
The first thing that caught me about this book is that Elisa is fat. Straight up, Elisa is fat. I love that. Do you know how often we get YA heroines who are fat, especially in novels like this? We just don't. Even though Elisa loses weight through out the series, she remains a bigger girl and I think that's important. Elisa is a strong, strong, incredible female character but its more than a physical strength. She's incredibly smart, clever and she figures out exactly what she needs to do, with bumps all the way. Its all about coming into yourself, and coming into what people expect of you, and just doing the best that you can with what you are given and its just incredible. I dragged my dad, boyfriend and brother four hours to Las Vegas just so I could meet Rae Carson.
6. The Throne of Glass Series
Books (so far): Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire
Celaena is a former deadly assassin, sent into the dark work prisons. She is caught trying to escape and is chosen by a stranger to be a contestant, part of a tournament to choose the next King's Champion. If she succeeds in winning, she will have to work for the King, whom she hates, for a period of time and then she can earn her freedom. She agrees and comes to the palace to compete but then people start disappearing, dying, being sabotaged in the contest and Celaena fears that she could be next. Add in the handsome and charming prince Dorian and the equally handsome and strong captain of the guard, Chaol, and you have a recipe for trouble.
Sarah J. Maas blew my mind with this series. I had seen it all over the place for so long and I finally purchased it and was so incredibly glad when I did. The one thing that really jumps out at me of this series is the incredible world building of it. It is deep and complex and has a whole history to it, which is beautiful. A really good high fantasy novel will have that, and this book definitely accomplishes that. Add in the fact that there's Dorian and Chaol and its so hard to figure out which one you like more, because they're both so different…and you're just so addicted to the story. But the kicker of the series is Celaena, who is a fantastic main character. I love that she can kill a person easily, almost in her sleep, but also loves to curl up with a good book and is so incredibly loving and caring.
5. The Song of the Lioness Quartet
Books: Alanna: The First Adventure, In the Hands of the Goddess, The Woman Who Rides Like a Man, Lioness Rampant
Alanna and her twin brother, Thom, are unhappy with their futures. Thom is all set to go to the palace to train as a knight, when he wants to go and learn to hone his magical Gift and become a powerful sorcerer. Alanna is to be sent to the convent, to be trained as a lady, to return home and find a husband, when she wants to become a knight. They switch places, and Alanna heads to the palace as Alan, disguised as a boy in order to earn her shield. Alanna has to work hard, doing all that she can to earn her shield, while trying to hide the fact that she is a girl.
This book series is incredible and what truly blows my mind about it is that it was written back in the 1980s. People think that the idea of a strong female character is a new phenomenon because of Hermione and Katniss and Tris but the original strong YA female character is definitely Alanna. She disguises herself as a boy for YEARS. Do you know how hard that would be? Not only does she have to work hard to become a knight, which is a trial all in itself, but she has to do it pretending to be a boy. She has to pretend that she doesn't get her period, or breasts, and that she doesn't having feelings for boys. She can't undress herself in front of them. Its all so hard. But she fights hard and earns everything that she gains and its just SUCH a great series. Its a must, an absolute must for any lover of YA.
4. The Grisha Trilogy
Books: Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising
Alina Starkov is an orphan, earning her way through life, and struggling to find where she fits in. She's working as a mapmaker, getting by and trying to ignore that her best friend, Mal, is handsome, popular with the ladies, and an incredibly good tracker. One day, as their crossing the Fold, a desolate bit of land, she saves Mal's life, by using a power that she never knew she had. She has been labeled the Sun Summoner, a rare Grisha classification, able to produce light from within her. Suddenly, she is whisked away by The Darkling, the most powerful of the Grisha, and her power becomes the center of her existence.
The first I met Leigh Bardugo was at the Ontario Teen Book Fest. She was on a panel and the moderator said something about strong female characters not existing when the authors were younger and Leigh immediately says "Uh, duh, Alanna?" and I knew immediately that I needed to read her book. I bought Shadow and Bone that day and I've been massively in love with the Grisha trilogy since then. I just read the last one a few weeks ago when it was released and I'm just so in love. Leigh is an incredible writer and a beautiful storyteller. She has magic, and power, and politics and romance and humor and so much all in one series and its just brilliant. I really haven't read a series like this before and I doubt I will ever read one like it again.
3. The Seven Realms Series
Books: The Demon King, The Exiled Queen, The Grey Wolf Throne, The Crimson Crown
Raisa is the princess of her queendom, being bred every day to be the queen. She is royal by blood on her mother's side, and has tribal blood from her father's side and after spending time with her father and his people, she returns to the castle, restless and ready to do more. Her mother, on the other hand, has been taken in by the High Wizard, in a world where wizards are not to be trusted, and Raisa begins to fear what her mother will do. She starts sneaking out of the palace, getting to know her queendom, hoping to become the best queen that she can be. Han is a former thief, turning away from his criminal ways, in order to support his mother and younger sister. When he steals a wizard's amulet one day, trouble begins to follow him and leads him into finding the truth about where he came from and what sort of powers he holds in himself.
THIS SERIES. I picked it up on a whim, really, just out of nowhere, and coincidentally, a few days before the final book was released. I literally read the four of them in a period of about five or six days and I have no regrets. Cinda Chima is absolutely brilliant. She reminds of Tamora Pierce a bit, and she just builds a great world. The Seven Realms is just so incredibly real and I love both the main characters so much and I couldn't wait until the two of them met up together. Raisa is fun, and brave, and sassy, and strong and Han is sarcastic and fearless and reckless and caring and I just love the both of them so much. There's mystery and intrigue and magic and you can never really figure out who the bad guy is and the books are full of surprises until the very end. There's action one moment and then steamy makeout scenes the next and I seriously canNOT get enough of these books.
2. The Daughter of the Lioness Duology
Books: Trickster's Choice, Trickster's Queen
Aly has lived in the shadow of her parents for her entire life. Her father is the King's spymaster and her mother is King's champion, and the first female knight in over a century. Her godparents are the king and queen, the wildmage and the realm's most powerful mage, the captain of the King's Guard and more. Her brother is studying to be a sorcerer and her twin has gone for his knighthood. What Aly wants more than anything is to be a spy, but her parents do not approve. She is kidnapped by pirates and sold into slavery at the nearby Copper Isles, to the Balitang family. There she discovers a rebellion brewing, the dark skinned raka wanting to take their country back from the light skinned luarin. Before she knows it, she's wrapped up in it, doing everything she can to protect the Balitang girls, who could become the countries' future rulers.
I'm rare in liking this series by Tammy the most but I must admit that I am quite biased. This is the first series that I actually read by Tammy. I picked it up when I was about 15 years old because it mentioned pirates and I was obsessed with pirates at the time. Obviously pirates were NOT essential to the story but I legitimately found one of my favorite books of all time. Aly is incredible and so different than Alanna, Daine and Kel. She doesn't have magical powers like Daine, though she has the Sight. She isn't a fighter like Alanna and Kel, though she can fight. Instead she's absolutely clever. She knows the way of politics and the underground spy world. She knows the minds of people and how to trick them and how to get them to do the things she wants them to. Plus I loved the rebellion of it, of the people rising up. Its…easily my favorite book (tied with Goblet of Fire).
1. The Harry Potter Series
Books: You know
I'm not going to do a summary for this one because, duh. I'm pretty sure most people know what this is about and if you don't…have you been living under a rock for all these years? Seriously?
I know this one is weird on this list because its kind of…is it full fantasy? Its kind of contemporary at the same time? I consider it high fantasy though. Also, is it YA? I've always sort of considered it YA but a lot of people say it's children. SO that's weird. But either way, its my favorite of all time. I do not have five HP tattoos, a personalized HP license plate and much more for nothing. This series is one of the most incredible series to ever be written and there is literally no other book that can make me feel the way these do. They have everything I could possibly need. They provide escape. They have taught me so many lessons of life. They make me laugh and cry. They make me question everything. They have brought me friends. They have an incredible world built and the story is beautiful and complex and exciting from the first page to the last.
* * * * * * * * *


text:
CAMBRIDGE, England and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Horizon Discovery Ltd (Horizon), a leading provider of research tools to support the development of personalized medicines, and H3 Biomedicine Inc., a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of oncology treatments, today announced they have entered into a collaboration agreement to identify and validate a panel of novel cancer drug targets.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120430/NY96379LOGO)
H3 Biomedicine integrates human cancer genomics with next-generation synthetic organic chemistry and tumor biology capabilities to generate a large library of novel small-molecule drugs to treat cancer. Horizon will work with H3 Biomedicine to perform target-validation experiments identifying critical cancer genome targets whose modulation will have meaningful clinical effect. H3 Biomedicine will carry out early target discovery through pre-clinical research, while Horizon will implement its three core drug discovery tools to run alongside and support H3 Biomedicine's discovery biology and chemistry assets and capabilities. The goal will be to rapidly come to definitive decisions on whether or not to progress novel targets into development. Eisai Inc., which is partnered with H3 Biomedicine, will conduct any resulting clinical trials.
Horizon's discovery tools comprise: rAAV-mediated genome editing (GENESIS™) for precision functional genomics (endogenous gene knock-in and knock-outs); an expanding panel of 400+ X-MAN™ (Mutant And Normal) human isogenic cell lines that model specific target patient genetics and their matched normal genetic backgrounds; extensive cell-based assay development and drug profiling experience.
"The successful development of new personalized medicines depends upon well validated and characterized targets and clearly defined patient populations," commented Markus Warmuth, President and CEO, H3 Biomedicine. "High attrition rates in clinical trials have been impacting industry for a while. We believe that clinical success starts at target selection and validation. We have elected to work with Horizon because their tools will enable H3 Biomedicine to progress toward identifying the best possible targets for new drugs with the power to have meaningful therapeutic relevance. That may help us to increase clinical success rates and expedite the delivery of new therapies to the patients who need them."
Darrin M Disley, CEO, Horizon, said, "Horizon and H3 Biomedicine share a common belief that systematically validating mutant genes with clear roles in cancer evolution may help yield rapidly translatable targets and drugs with greater clinical significance. We believe Horizon's precision genome editing technology, X-MAN disease models and drug profiling assets will play an essential role in working toward achieving this goal."
Under the terms of the agreement H3 Biomedicine will have an exclusive option to acquire ownership of all program assets and intellectual property (IP) that relates to each of the target programs, with the exception of Horizon background IP. Horizon will retain commercial rights over any target program not optioned by H3 Biomedicine. Horizon will receive an initial upfront investment, with additional payments as pre-clinical and clinical milestones are reached.
Notes to Editors
About Horizon Discovery http://www.horizondiscovery.com/
Horizon Discovery Limited (Horizon) is a leading provider of research tools to support translational genomics research and the development of personalized medicines. The Company's proprietary technology, GENESIS™, is the world's most precise genome editing technology. Using GENESIS, Horizon is able to alter any endogenous gene sequence of a human or mammalian cell-line quickly, reliably and without introducing unwanted and confounding genotypes and/or phenotypes.
Horizon has harnessed GENESIS to create over 400 X-MAN™ cell lines, the world's first source of genetically-defined and patient-relevant human cell lines, accurately modeling the disease-causing mutations found in cancer patients. These 'patients-in-a-test-tube' are being used by academic and industry leaders to identify the effect of individual genetic mutations on drug activity, patient responsiveness, and resistance, leading to the successful prediction of which patient sub-groups will respond to currently-available and future drug treatments. This enables the design of shorter, more focused, and less expensive clinical trials, ultimately providing the tools to identify the 'right drugs' for the 'right patients' based upon the unique genetic mutations that define their disease.
In addition to the X-MAN cell lines, Horizon provides GENESIS and X-MAN derived products and services, with industrial application in: bio-pharmaceutical process optimization; clinical diagnostic development; drug discovery & development; and the provision of reference standards for genomic-based clinical research platforms.
GENESIS and X-MAN are registered trademarks of Horizon Discovery Limited.
About H3 Biomedicine Inc.
H3 Biomedicine is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of oncology treatments. Using modern synthetic chemistry, chemical biology and human genetics, the company seeks to bring the next generation of cancer treatments to market with the goal of improving the lives of patients. H3 Biomedicine is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Visit www.H3biomedicine.com for more information.
About Eisai Inc.
Eisai Inc. was established in 1995 and began marketing its first product in the United States in 1997. Since that time, Eisai Inc. has rapidly grown to become a fully integrated pharmaceutical business. Eisai's key areas of commercial focus are neurology and oncology. The company serves as the U.S. pharmaceutical operation of Eisai Co., Ltd., a research-based human health care (hhc) company that discovers, develops and markets products throughout the world.
Eisai has a global product creation organization that includes U.S.-based R&D facilities in Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, as well as manufacturing facilities in Maryland and North Carolina. The company's areas of R&D focus include neuroscience; oncology; vascular, inflammatory and immunological reaction; and antibody-based programs. For more information about Eisai, please visit www.eisai.com/US.
SOURCE H3 Biomedicine Inc.


text:
The Wardrobe_Remix pool of Flickr is a constant source of inspiration. After seeing the dark yellow leggings in Amsterdam, and then fashioned in a completely different way here - and loving them both - I now am seeking some golden legs of my own.
Real Straight Cords from the Gap are always a good option for $54 with 25% off!
P.S. This month marks my blogs one year anniversary!


text:
Metal Glass Tiles
Glass metal tiles are designed based on glass tiles. When adding metal chips in, it makes the tile stunning, generally, the metal chips are made of stainless steel, copper, and aluminum alloy, and the glass chips are also new designed which may have stone marks printed on back or wave effect on finish. All the tiles are mesh mounted that can be easily cut during installation, they have wide-use for kitchen backsplash, fireplace deco, behind stoves, bathroom walls, shower walls, countertops, bath mirror frame etc.
Glass and metal work together in combination to add artful design to many areas of the home and commercial applications. When you apply a variety of textures and colors side by side, they create a new dimension in that area that is unique, warm, and inviting. Turn a tired looking ordinary kitchen backsplash, bathroom backsplash, wall into a special place to be with the addition of bright stylish and colorful glass and soft toned metal tiles. The blend of colorful shimmering glass combined with the look and feel of metal creates an intriguing visually stunning surface. Glass and metal tiles can enhance a wall or counter-top or be used as border trim that follows a long hallway. Antique copper, stainless steel or aluminum metal tiles used along with glossy, iridescent or frosty glass tiles can dress up your commercial design, new home or remodeling project.
There are no products to list in this category.


text:
Donut Pan
Donut Pan
Regular price
Regular price
Sale price
Unit price
- Made in the USA
- 15.75" x 11"
- Unique fluted design facilitates air circulation and maximizes pan strength to help resist warping
- Non-toxic, PTFE, PFOA and BPA free nonstick coating for easy release and quick clean-up
- Limited lifetime warranty through USA Pan
Return Policy
Return Policy
Return Policy:
Receipt is required for all returns/exchanges/transactions.
Receipt is required for all returns/exchanges/transactions.
Food Products:
We do not accept returns on oils, vinegars, or food products.
Oil & Vinegar bottles cannot be in extreme temperatures.
(i.e. left in a cold or hot car for extended periods of time)
Exchange or store credit on unopened food items within 14 days with receipt only.
Other Products:
Exchange or store credit within 30 days with receipt.
We will only accept unopened and unused merchandise
unless a manufacturer's defect occurs
All sale items are final sale.
Custom ordered products, prepackaged gift sets, and
customized items are also final sale.


text:
Yesterday's 2017 review and forecast for 2018 focused on the most urgent challenges the Trump administration faces: the volatile Middle East, international terrorism and the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Today, we examine the strategic threats posed by China and Russia and one of President Trump's continuing priorities: preserving and enhancing American sovereignty.
Russia and China will be among the Trump administration's key strategic challenges in the coming year. Photo: Wikipedia. |
China has likely been Trump's biggest personal disappointment in 2017, one where he thought that major improvements might be possible, especially in international trade. Despite significant investments of time and attention to President Xi Jinping, now empowered in ways unprecedented since Mao Tse Tung, very little has changed in Beijing's foreign policy, bilaterally or globally. There is no evidence of improved trade relations, or any effort by China to curb its abuses, such as pirating intellectual property, government discrimination against foreign traders and investors, or biased judicial fora.
Even worse, Beijing's belligerent steps to annex the South China Sea and threaten Japan and Taiwan in the East China Sea continued unabated, or even accelerated in 2017. In all probability, therefore, 2018 will see tensions ratchet up in these critical regions, as America (and hopefully others) defend against thinly veiled Chinese military aggression. Japan in particular has reached its limits as China has increased its capabilities across the full military spectrum, including at sea, in space and cyberwarfare.
Taiwan is not far behind. Even South Korea's Moon Jae In may be growing disenchanted with Beijing as it seeks to constrain Seoul's strategic defense options. And make no mistake, what China is doing in its littoral periphery is closely watched in India, where the rise of Chinese economic and military power is increasingly worrying. The Trump administration should closely monitor all these flash points along China's frontiers, any one of which could provoke a major military confrontation, if not next year, soon thereafter.
North Korea's nuclear weapons program is where China has most disappointed the White House. Xi Jinping has played the United States just like his predecessors, promising increased pressure on Pyongyang but not delivering nearly enough. The most encouraging news came as 2017 ended, in the revelation that Chinese and American military officers have discussed possible scenarios involving regime collapse or military conflict in North Korea. While unclear how far these talks have progressed, the mere fact that China is engaging in them shows a new level of awareness of how explosive the situation is. So, 2018 will be critical not only regarding North Korea's nuclear weapons threat but also whether Sino-American relations improve or take a distinct turn for the worse.
On Russia, the president has not given up on Vladimir Putin, at least not yet, but that may well come in 2018. Putin is an old-school, hard-edged, national interest-centered Russian leader, defending the "rodina" (the motherland), not a discredited ideology. Confronted with U.S. strength, Putin knows when to pull back, and he is, when it suits him, even capable of making and keeping deals. But there is no point in romanticizing the Moscow-Washington dynamic. It must be based not on personal relationships but on realpolitik.
No better proof exists than Russia's reaction to Trump's recent decision to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, which is now a war zone entirely because of Russian aggression. To hear Moscow react to Trump's weapons decision, however, one would think he was responsible for increased hostilities. President Obama should have acted at the first evidence of Russia's military incursion into Ukraine, and even Trump's aid is a small step compared to President Bush's 2008 proposal to move Kiev quickly toward NATO membership. Nonetheless, every independent state that emerged from the Soviet Union, NATO member or not, is obsessed with how America handles Ukraine. They should be, because the Kremlin's calculus about their futures will almost certainly turn on whether Trump draws a line on Moscow's adventurism in Ukraine.
Just as troubling as Russia's menace in Eastern and Central Europe is its reemergence as a great power player in the Middle East. Just weeks ago, the Russian Duma ratified an agreement greatly expanding Russia's naval station at Tartus, Syria. In 2015, Obama stood dumbfounded as Russia built a significant air base in nearby Latakia, thus cementing the intrusion of Russia's military presence in the Middle East to an extent not seen since Anwar Sadat expelled Soviet military advisers and brought Egypt into the Western orbit in the 1970s.
This expansion constitutes a significant power projection for the Kremlin. Indeed, it seems clear that Russia's support (even more than Iran's) for Syria's Assad regime has kept the dictatorship in power. Russia's assertiveness in 2017 also empowered Tehran, even as the ISIS caliphate was destroyed, to create an arc of Shia military power from Iran, through Iraq and Syria, linking up with Hezbollah in Lebanon. This Russian-Iranian axis should rank alongside Iran's nuclear-weapons program on America's list of threats emanating from the Middle East.
Finally, the pure folly of both the U.N. Security Council and the General Assembly crossing the United States on the Jerusalem embassy decision was a mistake of potentially devastating consequences for the United Nations. Combined with the International Criminal Court's November decision to move toward investigating alleged U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan, there is now ample space for the White House to expand on the president's focus on protecting American sovereignty.
Trump's first insight into the rage for "global governance" among the high minded came on trade issues, and his concern for the World Trade Organization's adjudication mechanism. These are substantial and legitimate, but the broader issues of "who governs" and the challenges to constitutional, representative government from international bodies and treaties that expressly seek to advance global governing institutions are real and growing. America has long been an obstacle to these efforts, due to our quaint attachment to our Constitution and the exceptionalist notion that we don't need international treaties to "improve" it.
No recent president has made the sovereignty point as strongly as Trump, and the United Nations and International Criminal Court actions in 2017 now afford him a chance to make decisive political and financial responses in 2018. If 2017 was a tumultuous year internationally, 2018 could make it seem calm by comparison.
John R. Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and as undersecretary for arms control and international security affairs at the U.S. Department of State under President George W. Bush. He is now a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
This article first appeared in The Hill and is reprinted here with the kind permission of the author.


text:
The Secret to
Unlocking the
- Only 24 minutes*
- 3 times a week*
- 12 Weeks for the Ultimate Body*
Unique Exercise Combination
The BodyBoss Method is a unique blend of exercises, combined into each training circuit. The workouts accelerate fat loss and improve fitness, as well as rapidly toning the body.*
Bodyweight Resistance Exercises
Bodyweight resistance exercises are simple, effective and free. No tricky equipment or weights are required as you use your own bodyweight as the sole form of resistance. These exercises help you strengthen your body and improve balance and flexibility. They are an excellent, all-over workout and can be done anytime, anywhere.
Plyometric Exercises
(Jump Training)
Plyometrics, also known as jump training or plyos, are explosive exercises designed to build strength, speed and coordination. In moves such as these, your muscles need to exert dynamic bursts of maximum force, over and over. The Body Boss Method incorporates plyos to help you preserve and build lean body mass, keeping your muscles toned and power-packed.
Cardio or aerobic exercise relies on the heart to shuttle oxygen to your muscles, and raises your heart rate for an extended period. It is typically performed at a moderate intensity, to enable the activity to be sustained. Cardio exercises are included in many of the HIIT circuits to help the body recovery and keep the heart pumping between the other more intensive exercises.
Unilateral Exercises
Unilateral exercises work one side of the body at a time, and are ideal for improving balance and evening out any strength inconsistencies. You might not know whether you favor your left or right side, but this kind of training will quickly reveal the truth!
The Secret Sauce
The BodyBoss Method is formulated with 4 cycles of 3 weeks. Each cycle is designed to lift the performance of the muscles and gradually increase in difficulty and intensity as the body adapts to the training. You will continue to be challenged, week on week. Bosses don't like to be bored.
It's finally here!
Fit Challenge
with Celebrity Trainer & Nutritionist, Kim Lyons
It's finally here!
Fit Challenge
with Celebrity Trainer & Nutritionist, Kim Lyons


text:
Votre panier est vide.
Sign up for our mailing list to receive new product alerts, special offers, and coupon codes.
Small Gold Glossy Laminated Uk Carrier Bags
Our customers love these eye catching Gold Gloss Paper Carrier Bags which are most ideal for small high value items. With 5mm cotton gold rope handles and 230gsm paper weight gives super feeling and quality is extremely high when touching. These small gloss carrier bags certainly give off a luxurious image. Your customers will reuse them for sure many times. The gloss laminated finish is reflecting the light making these Christmas Carrier Bags very eye-catching, especially in a stylish gold colour. Wholesale Carrier Bags Uk
100 Units in each pack Wholesale. From Only £0.45 each High Quality Gloss Organic Rope
Environment friendly, made with 90% percent recycled material. We protect our planet, when you buy them you protect and your customers also will protect.
Quality matters, 230gsm art American Bristol Paper is amazing, you can put any luxury high value products and give to your clients. They will love the quality of the Carrier Bag, you can match with a ribbon. Also 5 mm organic cotton ropes are amazing and your customers will love the quality. Wholesale
These small Gloss Carrier Bags With Rope Handles are certainly space saving as they are stored folded flat and pop out whenever needed. The size and strength of these bags also means that they stand up and keep their shape when folded out. They would also be very well suited as jewellery bags carrying small boxed jewellery items. Wholesale and best price.
Our Recommendation: Retail Stores, Boutiques, Clothing Designers, Jewellers, Gift Stores, Candles, accessories, perfume stores
Delivery Time: 1-2 working days
Material: Luxury Card American Bristol
Dimension : 17 cm - 25 cm - 7 cm
Weight : 230 gsm luxury
Gloss Laminate, 5 mm Organic Cotton Rope
Handle Colour : Matching Gold
Price Including VAT


text:
What the?
Friday, July 29th, 2016Well, I was working on an animation for two weeks straight, and while I'm done, I didn't finish in time to do a podcast for this week. But I'm now in the clear! Until my next class starts.
In the meantime, behold the egg shaped like a creamer potato. This was in the nesting bucket last night. Not sure who's responsible, or what they're up to, but it sure was a surprise.


text:
Canyon Leaf
Kids: Raw Honey Amber + Pearl Necklace
Baltic amber necklaces for children are attractive to wear and ideal to provide natural pain relief and soothing analgesic support during teething. Our Baltic amber necklaces and bracelets are beautifully made, comfortable, lightweight, and radiate energies of peace and calm as well as natural pain relief for the wearer. Wearing the necklace will help boost your child's immune system, reduce inflammation and accelerate healing as teething progresses.
Amber necklaces have been a source of traditional healing passed on for many generations and are widely used and treasured throughout Europe and the Far East as unparalleled alternative medicine with proven health benefits.
Amber is as old as time itself, dating back millions of years. And yet, it is still believed in today and used for its magnificent healing power for treating joint pain, arthritic ailments, and teething pain for children.
Baltic Amber has been a natural and traditional remedy for teething discomfort for hundreds of years. The necklaces come in a variety of warm colors and carry the significant healing and analgesic effects of natural Amber to remedy teething pain and create comfort for all.
Our amber jewelry is handmade using original Baltic amber that is over 45 million years old. Baltic Amber has some of the highest concentrations of Succinic Acid found in nature, and this is what makes it so special. The string in each of our necklaces and bracelets is knotted by hand in between each and every bead, so should the necklace break (which it should if necessary), the rest of the beads will not scatter. The necklace fastens with a screw clasp that opens and closes easily.
Amber jewelry is made for wearing not for chewing. Children should be supervised at all times when wearing jewelry, and it should be removed when child is sleeping or unattended.


text:
It's because college kids today can't do math, one line of reasoning goes. Or they don't know science. Or they're clueless about technology, aside from their myriad social-media profiles. These are all good theories, but the problem with the unemployability of these young adults goes way beyond a lack of STEM skills. As it turns out, they can't even show up on time in a button-down shirt and organize a team project.
The technical term for navigating a workplace effectively might be soft skills, but employers are facing some hard facts: the entry-level candidates who are on tap to join the ranks of full-time work are clueless about the fundamentals of office life.
A survey by the Workforce Solutions Group at St. Louis Community College finds that more than 60% of employers say applicants lack "communication and interpersonal skills" — a jump of about 10 percentage points in just two years. A wide margin of managers also say today's applicants can't think critically and creatively, solve problems or write well.
Another employer survey, this one by staffing company Adecco, turns up similar results. The company says in a statement, "44% of respondents cited soft skills, such as communication, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration, as the area with the biggest gap." Only half as many say a lack of technical skills is the pain point.
As much as academics go on about the lack of math and science skills, bosses are more concerned with organizational and interpersonal proficiency. The National Association of Colleges and Employers surveyed more than 200 employers about their top 10 priorities in new hires. Overwhelmingly, they want candidates who are team players, problem solvers and can plan, organize and prioritize their work. Technical and computer-related know-how placed much further down the list.
Jobs are going unfilled as a result, which hurts companies and employees. The annual global Talent Shortage Survey from ManpowerGroup finds that nearly 1 in 5 employers worldwide can't fill positions because they can't find people with soft skills. Specifically, companies say candidates are lacking in motivation, interpersonal skills, appearance, punctuality and flexibility.
(MORE: Black Swan Event: The Beginning of the End of Unpaid Internships)
One thing that does appear to make a difference is internships, according to a Harris Interactive survey of more than 2,000 college students and 1,000 hiring managers on behalf of textbook company Chegg: more than 80% of employers want new grads they hire to have completed a formal internship, but only 8% of students say interning in a field related to their major is something they spend a lot of time doing. Instead, the top extracurricular activities are hanging out with friends, working in an unrelated job and eating out.
And all internships are not created equal. Overall, only about half of college grads say they're prepared for the workplace — and the number of bosses who think they're prepared is lower than 40%.
Among students who don't intern, only 44% consider themselves ready for the job market. That improves for students with unpaid internships; 58% say they're prepared for the workplace. But among students who complete paid internships, that number jumps to 70%.
Part of the problem is that you don't know what you don't know, as the saying goes. Harris Interactive found a huge gap between students' perceptions of their abilities and managers' perceptions of those same skills.
(MORE: Three Little Words to Never Say in an Interview)
None of the students think they're entirely prepared for the workforce, but they're a lot more confident than the managers surveyed.
There's a 22-percentage-point difference between the two groups' assessment of the students' financial skills, which Inside Higher Ed calls "alarming," in an article about the research. Managers also take a much dimmer view of students' abilities to communicate with authority figures, prioritize and organize their work, manage projects, work in teams and with diverse groups.
It's just harder to teach these skills, experts say. "It is hard to correct a lifetime of bad habits in a short period of time," Roderick Nunn, vice chancellor for economic development and workforce solutions at St. Louis Community College, tells the St. Louis Beacon.


text:
Exclusive: The Obama administration continues to drag its feet on releasing U.S. intelligence evidence on who shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 six months ago, a failure that has given the guilty parties time to scatter and has created a new breeding ground for conspiracy theories, writes Robert Parry.
By Robert Parry
Now more than six months after the shoot-down of a Malaysia Airlines plane over Ukraine, the refusal of the Obama administration to make public what intelligence evidence it has about who was responsible has created fertile ground for conspiracy theories to take root while reducing hopes for holding the guilty parties accountable.
Given the U.S. government's surveillance capabilities – from satellite and aerial photographs to telephonic and electronic intercepts to human sources – American intelligence surely has a good idea what happened on July 17, 2014, when Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashed in eastern Ukraine killing all 298 people onboard.
I'm told that President Barack Obama has received briefings on what this evidence shows and what U.S. intelligence analysts have concluded about the likely guilty parties — and that Obama may have shared some of those confidential findings with the Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak when they met on Dec. 24 in Hawaii.
But the U.S. government has gone largely silent on the subject after its initial rush to judgment pointing fingers at ethnic Russian rebels for allegedly firing the missile and at the Russian government for supposedly supplying a sophisticated Buk anti-aircraft battery capable of bringing down the aircraft at 33,000 feet.
Since that early flurry of unverified charges, only snippets of U.S. and NATO intelligence findings have reached the public – and last October's interim Dutch investigative report on the cause of the crash indicated that Western governments had not shared crucial information.
The Dutch Safety Board's interim report answered few questions, beyond confirming that MH-17 apparently was destroyed by "high-velocity objects that penetrated the aircraft from outside." Other key questions went begging, such as what to make of the Russian military radar purporting to show a Ukrainian SU-25 jetfighter in the area, a claim that the Kiev government denied.
Either the Russian radar showed the presence of a jetfighter "gaining height" as it closed to within three to five kilometers of the passenger plane – as the Russians claimed in a July 21 press conference – or it didn't. The Kiev authorities insisted that they had no military aircraft in the area at the time.
But the 34-page Dutch report was silent on the jetfighter question, although noting that the investigators had received Air Traffic Control "surveillance data from the Russian Federation." The report also was silent on the "dog-not-barking" issue of whether the U.S. government had satellite surveillance that revealed exactly where the supposed ground-to-air missile was launched and who may have fired it.
The Obama administration has asserted knowledge about those facts, but the U.S. government has withheld satellite photos and other intelligence information that could presumably corroborate the charge. Curiously, too, the Dutch report said the investigation received "satellite imagery taken in the days after the occurrence." Obviously, the more relevant images in assessing blame would be aerial photography in the days and hours before the crash.
In mid-July, eastern Ukraine was a high priority for U.S. intelligence and a Buk missile battery is a large system that should have been easily picked up by U.S. aerial reconnaissance. The four missiles in a battery are each about 16-feet-long and would have to be hauled around by a truck and then put in position to fire.
The Dutch report's reference to only post-crash satellite photos was also curious because the Russian military released a number of satellite images purporting to show Ukrainian government Buk missile systems north of the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk before the attack, including two batteries that purportedly were shifted 50 kilometers south of Donetsk on July 17, the day of the crash, and then removed by July 18.
Russian Claims
Russian Lt. Gen. Andrey Kartopolov called on the Ukrainian government to explain the movements of its Buk systems and why Kiev's Kupol-M19S18 radars, which coordinate the flight of Buk missiles, showed increased activity leading up to the July 17 shoot-down.
The Ukrainian government countered these questions by asserting that it had "evidence that the missile which struck the plane was fired by terrorists, who received arms and specialists from the Russian Federation," according to Andrey Lysenko, spokesman for Ukraine's Security Council, using Kiev's preferred term for the rebels.
Lysenko added: "To disown this tragedy, [Russian officials] are drawing a lot of pictures and maps. We will explore any photos and other plans produced by the Russian side." But Ukrainian authorities have failed to address the Russian evidence except through broad denials.
On July 29, amid escalating rhetoric against Russia from U.S. government officials and the Western news media, the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity called on President Obama to release what evidence the U.S. government had on the shoot-down, including satellite imagery.
"As intelligence professionals we are embarrassed by the unprofessional use of partial intelligence information," the group wrote. "As Americans, we find ourselves hoping that, if you indeed have more conclusive evidence, you will find a way to make it public without further delay. In charging Russia with being directly or indirectly responsible, Secretary of State John Kerry has been particularly definitive. Not so the evidence. His statements seem premature and bear earmarks of an attempt to 'poison the jury pool.'"
However, the Obama administration failed to make public any intelligence information that would back up its earlier suppositions. In early August, I was told that some U.S. intelligence analysts had begun shifting away from the original scenario blaming the rebels and Russia to one focused more on the possibility that extremist elements of the Ukrainian government were responsible.
A source who was briefed by U.S. intelligence analysts told me that they had found no evidence that the Russian government had given the rebels a BUK missile system. Thus, these analysts concluded that the rebels and Russia were likely not at fault and that it appeared Ukrainian government forces were to blame, although apparently a unit operating outside the direct command of Ukraine's top officials.
The source specifically said the U.S. intelligence evidence did not implicate Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko or Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk but rather suggested an extremist element of the armed forces funded by one of Ukraine's oligarchs. [See Consortiumnews.com's "Flight 17 Shoot-down Scenario Shifts"and "Was Putin Targeted for Mid-air Assassination?"]
But then chatter about U.S. intelligence information on the shoot-down faded away. When I recently re-contacted the source who had been briefed by these analysts, the source said their thinking had not changed, except that they believed the missile may have been less sophisticated than a Buk, possibly an SA-6.
What was less clear was whether these analysts represented a consensus view within the U.S. intelligence community or whether they spoke for one position in an ongoing debate. The source also said President Obama was resisting going public with the U.S. intelligence information about the shoot-down because he didn't feel it was ironclad.
A Dangerous Void
But that void has left the debate over whodunit vulnerable to claims by self-interested parties and self-appointed experts, including some who derive their conclusions from social media on the Internet, so-called "public-source investigators." The Obama administration also hasn't retracted the early declarations by Secretary Kerry implicating the rebels and Russia.
Just days after the crash, Kerry went on all five Sunday talk shows fingering Russia and the rebels and citing evidence provided by the Ukrainian government through social media. On NBC's "Meet the Press," David Gregory asked, "Are you bottom-lining here that Russia provided the weapon?"
Kerry: "There's a story today confirming that, but we have not within the Administration made a determination. But it's pretty clear when – there's a build-up of extraordinary circumstantial evidence. I'm a former prosecutor. I've tried cases on circumstantial evidence; it's powerful here." [See Consortiumnews.com's "Kerry's Latest Reckless Rush to Judgment."]
But some U.S. intelligence analysts soon offered conflicting assessments. After Kerry's TV round-robin, the Los Angeles Times reported on a U.S. intelligence briefing given to several mainstream U.S. news outlets. The story said, "U.S. intelligence agencies have so far been unable to determine the nationalities or identities of the crew that launched the missile. U.S. officials said it was possible the SA-11 [a Buk anti-aircraft missile] was launched by a defector from the Ukrainian military who was trained to use similar missile systems." [See Consortiumnews.com's "The Mystery of a Ukrainian 'Defector.'"]
In October, Der Spiegel reported that the German intelligence service, the BND, had concluded that Russia was not the source of the missile battery – that it had been captured from a Ukrainian military base – but still blaming the rebels for firing it. The BND also concluded that photos supplied by the Ukrainian government about the MH-17 tragedy "have been manipulated," Der Spiegel reported.
And, the BND disputed Russian government claims that a Ukrainian fighter jet had been flying close to MH-17 just before it crashed, the magazine said, reporting on the BND's briefing to a parliamentary committee on Oct. 8, which included satellite images and other photography. But none of the BND's evidence was made public — and I was subsequently told by a European official that the evidence was not as conclusive as the magazine article depicted. [See Consortiumnews.com's "Germans Clear Russia in MH-17 Case."]
So, it appears that there have been significant disagreements within Western intelligence circles about precisely who was to blame. But the refusal of the Obama administration and its NATO allies to lay their evidence on the table has not only opened the door to conspiracy theories, it has threatened to turn this tragedy into a cold case with the guilty parties – whoever they are – having more time to cover their tracks and disappear.
Investigative reporter Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories for The Associated Press and Newsweek in the 1980s. You can buy his latest book, America's Stolen Narrative, either in print here or as an e-book (from Amazon and barnesandnoble.com). You also can order Robert Parry's trilogy on the Bush Family and its connections to various right-wing operatives for only $34. The trilogy includes America's Stolen Narrative. For details on this offer, click here.


text:
« Prev | Preface to Origen on Canticles. | Next » |
14. Take, again, the Preface to the Song of Songs:
"To the most holy Pope Damasus. Origen in his other books has surpassed all other men: in the Song of Songs he has surpassed himself. The work consists of eleven complete volumes, and reaches a length of nearly twenty thousand lines. In these he discusses first the version of the Septuagint; then those of Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion, and last of all a Fifth Version which he states that he discovered on the coast of Actium, and this he does so grandly and so freely that it seems to me as if the words were fulfilled in him which say,29642964 Cant. i. 4 "The king has brought me into his bedchamber." It would require a vast amount of time, of labour, and of money to translate a work so great and of so much merit into the Latin language. I therefore leave it unattempted; and have merely translated, and that without elegance, but correctly, these two Tracts which he composed in ordinary language for babes and sucklings. I give you a mere taste of his opinions, not a full meal; but enough to make you realize what is the worth of his greater works, when the smaller give you so much pleasure."
« Prev | Preface to Origen on Canticles. | Next » |


text:
Welcome to Puakea Golf Course
Take advantage of what we have to offer!
"Puakea may be the most fun course to play in Hawaii. The course rides up, down and around deep ravines. It has beautiful pali views on about three-quarters of the course and ocean views for the rest. Each of the holes are distinctly different so you're constantly facing new, interesting challenges.
Robin Nelson - Golf Course Architect


text:
ECB offers cricketers a chance to have their say on recreational game
Tuesday 2nd July 2013
With the eyes of the sporting world firmly focused on the battle for the Ashes this summer, ECB today launched its first ever national survey of recreational cricket throughout England and Wales.
The survey will give club cricketers a unique opportunity to have their say on all aspects of the recreational game, influence its future development and take part in a competition to win Investec Test Match tickets.
Devised as part of the ECB's new strategic plan, Champion Counties, the survey is designed to give ECB a greater understanding of how best to serve the needs of recreational cricketers at all levels.
The findings will support ECB's wider plans to invest more than £96 million into community cricket over the next four years across all its 39 County Cricket Boards in England and Wales.
ECB Chief Executive David Collier said: "It's vital that our recreational game continues to grow so we can nurture the next generation of potential England stars and maintain cricket's position as the nation's number one summer sport.
"There's never been a better time to be involved in cricket with more opportunities to play the game than ever before for girls, women and disability cricketers as well as men and boys.
"That's why we want to hear from players of all ages, as well as anyone actively involved in local cricket clubs including coaches, umpires, scorers or volunteers about how we can make our club game even stronger going forward."
Entitled 'The National Cricket Playing Survey,' the online questionnaire takes approximately ten minutes to complete and can be accessed via www.ecb.co.uk/playingsurvey. Everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a prize draw for ten pairs of tickets to the Investec Test Series against India in 2014.


text: In accessing and using information on University systems, I will comply with all applicable legislation, and regulations, policies and procedures of the University. I will only use this information in relation to my University duties and activities. I will not disclose any information that is subject to restrictions on disclosure.


text:
International Workshop Series: The Emotions of Migration
Workshop 2
Young People's Migration Within and Throughout Asia: Managing Emotions, Identities and Relationships
Date: 19 August 2014 to 20 August 2014
York Centre for Asian Research and the Children's Studies Program (Department of Humanities) York University, Toronto Canada
Call for papers: Workshop 2 calls for empirical research papers – historical and contemporary- on children and young people's emotional experiences of migration within and throughout Asia. Papers should focus on mixed feelings of (but not limited to) elation, loneliness, hope, frustration, confusion, relief, fear, freedom and disappointment in the migration process.
There is a preference for participant-centred research in South and Southeast Asia prioritizing the following themes:
- Migration for work and marriage in a historical context (especially in plantations and estates)
- Contemporary experiences of moving for work, marriage and school – managing mixed feelings
- Left Behind – adjusting to absence and creating and maintaining relationships
Submission and Funding: Please submit contact details and paper abstract (maximum of 300 words) by April 4th 2014 to Dr. Kabita Chakrabortry email@example.com.
Successful applicants will be notified by late-April and are required to send in a complete draft paper (6000 – 8000 words) by July 8, 2014. Partial or full funding will be granted to successful applicants. Participants are encouraged to seek alternate funds for travel from their home institutions
Webpage: http://ycar.apps01.


text:
★ Integrity Bottles is run by Military Veterans! ★
We truly care about the quality of our products and provide exceptional customer service. Search google for "Integrity Bottles Reviews" to see for yourself :-)
✓ SAND-CARVED BY HAND - Integrity Bottles creates a professional "Deep Etch" that you can feel on this premium coffee mug.
✓ NO STICKERS OR LASERS - The deep etched seahorse design will never fade or come off in the dishwasher, keep these coffee mugs for life.
✓ PREMIUM QUALITY - When buying products from Integrity Bottles, you are buying tested and approved high quality products. We won't sell anything that's subpar!
✓ AUTHENTIC PRODUCT - This is an authentic Integrity Bottles coffee mug and you can count on us to provide exceptional quality products and customer care!
Glasses are carefully sandblasted to etch a smooth design. No chemicals are used in sandblasting, and unlike vinyl or paints, it won't wash off, peel, or fade." to "Glasses are carefully etched or sandblasted to achieve a smooth design. No chemicals are used in the etching or sandblasting process, and unlike vinyl or paints, it won't wash off, peel, or fade.


text:
ScienceDaily (Aug. 15, 2012) — A research team from the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD), University of Exeter, and University of Cambridge has for the first time established a link between high levels of urinary Bisphenol-A (BPA) and severe coronary artery stenosis (narrowing of the arteries).
The study is published in PLoS ONE on 15th August 2012.
The team analysed data from 591 patients who participated in the Metabonomics and Genomics Coronary Artery Disease (MaGiCAD) study in Cambridgeshire, UK. They compared urinary BPA with grades of severity of coronary artery disease (CAD).
The patients were classified into severe, intermediate or normal CAD categories based on narrowing of their coronary arteries measured using a technique called angiography, which is considered the gold standard method of diagnosis. In all, 385 patients were identified to have severe CAD, 86 intermediate CAD and 120 had normal coronary arteries.
The study shows that urinary BPA concentration was significantly higher in those with severe CAD compared to those with normal coronary arteries.
The results are important because they suggest that associations between urinary BPA and CAD may be specific to narrowing of the arteries.
This is the fourth study led by PCMD, University of Exeter to identify a statistical link between increased levels of urinary BPA and cardiovascular disease.
Other studies related to BPA carried out by the same research team have found associations with altered testosterone and changes in the expression of BPA target genes in men, suggesting that BPA may be more active in the body than previously thought.
The research team was led by Professor David Melzer, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at PCMD, University of Exeter. He said: "Our latest study strengthens a growing body of work that suggests that BPA may be adding to known risk factors for heart disease. Full proof will be very difficult to get, as experiments on this in humans are not feasible."
Professor Tamara Galloway, lead toxicologist on the study from University of Exeter, said: "These results are important because they give us a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the association between BPA and heart disease."
Dr. David Mosedale, Chairman of the MaGiCAD Management Committee, added: "This demonstrates the utility of intensively characterised cohorts like MaGiCAD, and highlights the need for further research into the long-term effects of common environmental chemicals such as BPA."
BPA is a controversial chemical commonly used in food and drink containers. It has previously caused concerns over health risks to babies, as it is present in some baby's bottles. Following a PCMD study in September 2008 many nations moved to ban BPA from the manufacture of baby's bottles and other feeding equipment.
BPA is used in polycarbonate plastic products such as refillable drinks containers, compact disks, some plastic eating utensils and many other products in everyday use. It is one of the world's highest production volume chemicals, with 5.16 million tonnes produced in 2008 (source: Chemical Weekly 2009).


text:
Before launching a career as a management consultant and author of such books as First, Break All The Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently and The One Thing You Need to Know…About Great Managing, Great Leading and Sustained Individual Success, Buckingham served as head of The Gallup Organization's strengths management practice. He was a manager, and he didn't much care for it. "I wasn't terrible, but I had no appetite for it," said Buckingham, who spoke about management and leadership at the Wharton Leadership Conference on June 9. The conference was sponsored by Wharton's Center for Leadership and Change Management and Center for Human Resources.
According to Buckingham, the best managers share one talent — the ability to find, and then capitalize upon, their employees' unique traits. "The guiding principle is, 'How can I take this person's talent and turn it into performance?' That's the only way success is possible." And yet not everyone has that knack, Buckingham said. If he has learned anything from his years spent interviewing the best minds of the business world, it is this: Truly great managers, and truly inspiring business leaders, are rarer than many think. "Some of you in this room may not have that talent," he said. "If not, management can become a thankless task."
Checkers vs. Chess
How to tell a good manager from a bad manager? According to Buckingham, it's simple: Bad managers play checkers. Good managers play chess. The good manager knows that not all employees work the same way. They know if they are to achieve success, they must put their employees in a position where they will be able to use their strengths. "Great managers know they don't have 10 salespeople working for them. They know they have 10 individuals working for them …. A great manager is brilliant at spotting the unique differences that separate each person and then capitalizing on them."
It may sound elementary, but a quick glance around the business world indicates that many companies have yet to grasp this simple concept of putting people's strengths to use, Buckingham said. That's because the business world — and the world at large — is obsessed with weaknesses and finding ways to fix them. Buckingham cited a recent poll that asked workers whether they felt they could achieve more success through improving on their weaknesses or building on their strengths. Fifty-nine percent picked the former.
"A great manager sees the folly in this," said Buckingham, who has interviewed some of the business world's most successful leaders for his books. "A great manager knows he or she will get the most return on investment by working on strengths." Buckingham has seen this management style work. He just doesn't see it often enough, and he believes too many workers spend too much of their time doing things they don't like to do or simply aren't good at doing.
Buckingham co-authored his book, Now, Discover Your Strengths, in hopes of kick-starting a management revolution that will push mangers to focus on strength. In the book, Buckingham and co-author Donald O. Clifton describe 34 distinct worker profiles — "Learner," "Achiever" and "Developer," among others — and offer advice on how those personalities can best be put to use. "Most people are not using their talent at work at all," Buckingham said.
So how can managers tap into the talent they have in their organizations? Buckingham said a good first step is to determine what employees are good at. The tasks they learn quickly, the talents they naturally exhibit and the jobs they feel good about doing are hints about their inherent strengths. Once those strengths are uncovered, a good manager will put them to use. "You can only win as a company when you get your people into positive numbers," Buckingham said.
Optimism and Ego
Managing employees successfully is a rare talent. Even rarer, Buckingham said, is the ability to lead. And all good managers are not necessarily good leaders.
"I do think there is a rather keen and distinct difference between managing and leading," Buckingham said. The chief responsibility of a leader, for example, "is to rally people for a better future. If you are a leader, you better be unflinchingly, unfailingly optimistic. No matter how bleak his or her mood, nothing can undermine a leader's belief that things can get better, and must get better. I believe you either bring this to the table or you don't."
Along with that optimism, great leaders can also bring big egos — and that's not a bad thing. While some have blamed the business world's recent string of scandals — Enron, WorldCom and others — on bloated executive egos, Buckingham disagrees. It's not ego that ruined Ken Lay, but rather a lack of ethics. There's a big difference, Buckingham said. And considering the responsibility facing business leaders to build a future for their companies, a big ego might be what is needed.
"If you are going to lead, you better have a deep-seated belief that you should be at the helm, dragging everyone into that better future," he said. "Virtually nothing about a leader is humble. I'm not saying they are arrogant, but their claims are big." Buckingham said successful leaders must find a "universal truth" to rally their followers. These universal truths stem from the basic human needs, fears and desires that unite all people, across all cultures. They also happen to be great tools for leadership.
Take, for example, one of the great human fears — fear of the future. "We all share a fear of the unknown," Buckingham said. "The problem for the modern-day leader, of course, is that you traffic in the future." Buckingham says some the best leaders can overcome this fear — and build confidence among their followers — with a weapon of their own: clarity.
By presenting a clear message, and backing up their message with actions that support it, top managers of such companies as Tesco, Best Buy and Wal-Mart have rallied employees to their cause and enjoyed bottom-line success as a result, Buckingham noted. "The best way to turn anxiety into confidence is this: Be clear. Clarity is the antidote to anxiety. If you do nothing else as a leader, be clear." Former New York City Mayor Giuliani provided a good example of effective leadership through clarity, Buckingham said. When Giuliani took office in 1993, he could have turned his attentions just about anywhere; America's largest city certainly had its share of problems.
But Giuliani set one specific, clear and focused goal for his administration. He would reduce crime and improve quality of life for residents. Then he laid out three simple ways he was going to start making that happen: He announced he would get rid of the window washers who pestered New York City drivers; clean subways of graffiti and then keep the vandals away; and make all cab drivers wear collared shirts. The issues were, on their surface, minor. But they were relevant to his citizens. And by setting three immediate goals — and then achieving them — Giuliani was able to build trust among residents and respect among his workers. That trust carried over as he tackled larger challenges, and within a few years of his arrival, the FBI named New York the safest big city in America. "You can do a lot worse than pick just a few areas you want to take action on right now," Buckingham said.
Clarity of purpose has also been a driving factor in the success of Tesco, the British food giant that has more than 2,000 stores and 360,000 employees worldwide. When Terry Leahy took over as CEO in 1997, he decreed the company's focus would be, from that point forward, to serve the housewives of the world. Then he went out and did something to prove he believed in his focus: He added more checkout lines in all his stores, a move that led to significantly higher labor costs but also won over his customers and sent a message to his employees that they were there, as Leahy had proclaimed, to provide courteous, efficient service.
"That kind of clarity builds confidence in people," Buckingham said. Today, Tesco is one of the three largest retailers in the world, and Leahy's success provides a handy leadership lesson. "When you want to lead, start with the future." Buckingham said. "Get specific. And get vivid."
Source: https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/good-managers-focus-on-employees-strengths-not-weaknesses/