text:
My Video Inspector - Download Now
Geschreven door
op .I have completed my first real Python program, which is a video / audio file inspector (and player). Simply download the source code, and run the "Inspector.py" script to start the program.
Click here to download the source code.
Here is a screen shot of my program:
This program has accomplished 2 important things for me. 1) It has been a great learning experience, which has given me lots of confidence. 2) It's going to provide code that I can use in my real program: a much more complicated non-linear video editor for Linux.

subset: commoncrawl


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I'm a little bit late for this analysis but you know how it is with Christmas and all.
The results for the referendum on electoral reform in BC were pretty shocking. While literally every single poll published before, during or right after the campaign had the two options pretty much at 50-50, the current system won with over 60% of the votes!
I guess this is fitting that, in a year that has been terrible for the polls (massive underestimations of the winner in Ontario and Quebec), we would also get polls be very off for a more uncertain exercise. Still, it doesn't make the results any less shocking. Beyond the polls, I really can't explain how a mail-in referendum with a simpler option (MMP instead of STV) with the active support of two of the three main parties wouldn't at least do better than in 2009.
So, why were polls so wrong? If you are expecting a clear cut answer in this article, you should stop reading. The short answer is still: I don't know. But I can try to provide some conjectures. If you don't have time to read, here is a point summary:
- Polls were wrong everywhere but especially wrong in the Lower Mainland
- It could be because polls didn't reach non-English voters enough as PR got really destroyed (and was overestimated) in the suburbs
- People aged 18-34 did vote more than usual but it wasn't enough for PR to win
Also, I'll ignore the magical polls published after the results (one from Research Co. and one mentioned by Ipsos) that somehow had FPTP clearly winning. I can give the benefit of the doubt to Ipsos since they were actually providing numbers to the NO side, even though I couldn't explain why Ipsos would have had a better methodology than other firms as Ipsos hasn't historically performed better. But for Research Co, they literally had another exit poll before and it was still mostly 50-50, so give me a break. Also, I should mention the exit poll from Angus-Reid, published right after the official results were made public. This exit poll had the two options pretty much at 50-50 but Angus-Reid made sure to use a headline hiding this fact. I found it amusing.
Anyway, I think the biggest discrepancy between results and polls can be observed regionally. Polls mostly all showed the same pattern: PR was ahead on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland while FPTP was clearly ahead in the Interior. The table below shows the polling average (same weight to every poll; Playing with weights doesn't make much difference) and the actual results.
Polls were overestimating PR everywhere but the bias is especially strong in the Lower Mainland. Is it because polls didn't correctly reach non-English speakers? Is that why Ipsos did better? Maybe.
If you look at the results by ridings, you see that PR won where we thought it'd (in some very urban Vancouver ridings) but it got destroyed way more than expected in most of the suburbs.
As for the general overestimation of PR, one easy explanation is that undecided ultimately chose the status quo. This would make sense but doesn't match with the fact that polls kept showing a 50-50 race as the campaign went on (and the number of undecided decreased). Exit polls (from Angus-Reid or Research Co, or even my own) were also good for PR and had no undecided. Ipsos mentioned on Twitter that FPTP was around 60% the whole time. So this theory really doesn't match with the numbers.
If we look at the second exit poll from Research Co (the one where they magically got the right results all of a sudden), we see that while BC Liberals voters did vote, as expected, to keep FPTP (with a margin even higher than expected), NDP and Green voters didn't remotely support PR as much as what the polls were showing. Polls had these voters over 70% in favor of PR but the exit poll only show PR at around 60%. So while I'm skeptical of a poll that all of a sudden got the right results, this might be the explanation: the BC Liberals got their vote out more and managed to convince more people while the NDP clearly didn't motivate its suburban votes to vote YES.
Polls had shown that this referendum was heavily split with regard to age with the 18-34 clearly in favor of PR while the 55+ were incredibly opposed to it. Regression-based analysis (with the final numbers) still shows what I had been saying: the turnout was higher in ridings with more young voters (relatively speaking, especially compared to 2017). Elections BC doesn't provide us with the results by age but I suspect that the NO won among the 55+ even more than what the polls were showing while the 35-54 most likely ended up voting NO as well despite the polls showing otherwise.
By the way, my measure of when a riding received the ballots (see previous blog posts about it) is still there and significant with the final numbers. If PR had lost by a tiny margins, I feel this should become a big issue. But given the margin of victory for the NO side, I guess we can forget about it even though this is troubling.
During the campaign I tried various methods to estimate the results (age, region or party based). I liked the method based on past votes the most as I thought this was the best "one variable" method available, one that would capture other effects as well (vote is correlated with region and age too). So I re-did these estimations and compared my results to the actual ones, riding by riding. Obviously my method was biased overall since I had PR slightly ahead, but I'm more interested in finding patterns of where the method was more wrong. By the way, the overall correlation between estimated % for PR and actual ones is 0.83, so not too bad.
I found that the method was overestimating PR in ridings in the Lower Mainland and on the Island (and/or underestimating FPTP in the Interior). I was underestimating PR in ridings with more voters aged 18-34 and with a bigger share of English speakers. Maybe here is the most interesting piece of information: the method was underestimating PR in ridings that had a higher turnout this year but it was overestimating PR in ridings that had a higher turnout last year.
All in all, I maintain what I was saying: this referendum motivated more voters aged 18-34 to vote. I'm not saying the turnout in this age group was actually the highest of all age groups, but it was definitely higher than in previous elections. And this group likely voted for PR by a healthy margin. But that just wasn't enough to allow PR to actually win. The YES campaign (as illustrated by Horgan's performance at the debate) was weird. I gave them the benefit of the doubt during the referendum as I thought that they maybe had data showing it was working, but in hindsight, it was a mistake. Focusing on the young, progressive vote (it's "lit") was a bad idea. These voters were going to support PR anyway. What the YES side had to do was convincing older voters that PR was a good idea. Offering three systems without fully defining one just opened a giant door for the NO side who could spend 30 days saying it was "too complicated" or too risky. It also seems the NO side was successful in making this referendum feels "rigged" even though I don't really see valid reasons behind this argument.
Proportional representation is now a dead in BC for many years (as it should be after such a loss). Hopefully Quebec leads the way next year and adopts PR. Legault has mentioned he doesn't intend on doing a referendum and while I believe one could be successful in Quebec, I also never thought PR would get less than 40% in BC. So no referendum might be the safest way to get PR, although I feel a referendum is most likely needed nowadays to change the electoral system... But I'm seriously tired of losing referendums! So go Quebec and go PEI next year!


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RX-V585 Descatalogado
Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X™.
Explore Every Dimension
Explore Every Dimension
Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X™
Compatibility with these amazing sound technologies transports you from an ordinary moment into an extraordinary experience. They deliver breathtakingly rich and realistic surround sound, positioning and moving individual sounds to any virtual point in your room, including objects moving overhead. Experience the overwhelming realistic movement and immersion in videos — right in your home theatre room.
Immerse Yourself in the Sound
Immerse Yourself in the Sound
This unique Yamaha proprietary sound field creation technology, was created by combining measured sound field data with digital signal processing. Yamaha collected sound field data from famous concert halls and music clubs around the world, utilising its wealth of experience in the fields of concert hall design, public address and mixing. By digitizing that vast trove of information and incorporating it into dedicated LSI devices, it effectively reproduces the spaces of those concert halls on home equipment. Immerse yourself in the astounding realism of your movies, and enter a world of profound theatre sound.
Easy Sound Optimisation
Easy Sound Optimisation
YPAO (Yamaha Parametric room Acoustic Optimizer) analyses the room acoustics and your system, then precisely adjusts various audio parameters to provide the best sound for your room. Simply by placing the supplied microphone at your listening position and switching YPAO on, the system is automatically tuned for optimum performance in your home theatre room.
Optimum Performance
Optimum Performance
High-quality Parts
Yamaha AV receivers feature fully discrete power amplifiers to minimise distortion and adopt independent pure power supplies for the analogue and digital circuitry. They also feature ultra-high performance with 384 kHz / 32-bit DACs, also with Independent power supplies, for reproducing absolutely all the audio in High Resolution sound sources without noise. A new high sound quality IC is employed for volume control and large heat sinks suppress vibration. Down to every detail, these AV receivers are designed with full emphasis on the highest possible sound quality.
A World of Entertainment.
Free and Easy Placement
Free and Easy Placement
Wireless Surround Speakers
Combine this AV receiver with the MusicCast 50 or MusicCast 20 wireless streaming speaker and enjoy the amazing convenience of creating a home theatre with wireless rear speakers. What's more, you get stunningly realistic sound with a clean, clutter-free setup. Easily turn your current living room into a special entertainment environment where you can fully enjoy movies and music.
Multi-room Audio
Multi-room Audio
MusicCast takes the headache out of multi-room audio. Simply connect all MusicCast devices to the same network and start sharing audio throughout the home. Take MusicCast for a test drive by downloading the free MusicCast app and using it demo mode.
Music at Your Command
Music at Your Command
AirPlay 2
Hey Siri. Play music in the kitchen and living room.
AirPlay 2 adds the ability to stream Apple Music and other streaming services to multiple MusicCast devices throughout your home. Easily control it from your iPhone or iPad, link it with a HomePod, or simply ask Siri for an assist.
A World of Music
A World of Music
Streaming Services
Explore a world of music with music streaming services* built-in. Syncing your playlists and song likes from your smart phone or computer to the RX-V585, music streaming services make it impossibly easy to either listen to your faves or discover new music.
* Music streaming service availability varies by region.
* Streaming services may change or be discontinued without notice.
Easily Experience 9.1-channel Realism
Easily Experience 9.1-channel Realism
Virtual Speaker Technology
With the power of CINEMA DSP 3D, the Virtual Presence Speaker function makes full use of centre and surround speakers to create audible information from where presence (height) speakers are normally installed. In addition, this model also features a Virtual Surround Back Speaker function. Even without using surround back speakers, you can experience more natural surround sound thanks to CINEMA DSP 3D playback — giving you the virtual equivalent of up to 9.1-channel surround, even with a 5.1-speaker configuration.
* Dolby Atmos and DTS: X signals cannot be used with these virtual features.
Full Resolution, Total Immersion
Full Resolution, Total Immersion
eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
Unlock the full potential of your 4K content. Enhanced Audio Return Channel (also known as eARC) is the next generation of ARC – available in the industry-leading AV receivers from Yamaha.
eARC delivers full-resolution, multi-channel audio formats such as Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD® through your existing HDMI connection, giving you the most realistic surround sound experience for immersing yourself in your favourite movies and moments.
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Let's Talk
Let's Talk
Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant on MusicCast
Touch or voice control – the choice is yours. Intuitively control a single MusicCast product or an entire whole-of-home system with ease using Alexa or Google Assistant and hear your home come alive.
*Availability of voice command control via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant varies by region.
Easy Operation, Detailed Settings
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AV Controller App
This easy-to-use app lets you conveniently and 'smartly' control your AV receiver's power, volume, input selections, DSP modes — and much, much more — from an iOS or Android™ device. You can also use as many as 23 different languages and customise the interface by hiding unused icons and renaming functions. A tablet version is also available.
Install with Ease
Install with Ease
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Brilliant and Lively
Music Enhancer
The Compressed Music Enhancer from Yamaha is now optimised for Bluetooth audio transmissions to ensure that your music will have vivid, energetic sound quality during wireless playback.
High Definition, Comfortable Viewing
On-screen Display
The latest graphical user interface from Yamaha has a high-resolution display with clear, easy-to-use menus and includes a selectable status bar that shows input source, volume level, DSP mode and audio format. The GUI provides a choice of eight languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese and Chinese and can be displayed over both normal and 3D pictures.
Save Energy by 20%
Eco Mode
When ECO Mode is turned on it can reduce power consumption by about 20 percent*, thanks to an advanced energy saving design. *Compared to power consumption when ECO mode is off (Yamaha measurement).


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History of Casino Gambling in Atlantic City
The issue of casino gambling first appeared on a ballot for New Jersey voters on November 5, 1974. This initial referendum was defeated in 19 of New Jersey's 21 counties, with about 60% of votes cast against it.
A revised referendum, limiting gambling exclusively to the city limits of Atlantic City, was placed on the ballot November 2, 1976. The second referendum was approved by a slim margin, with approximately 1.5 million voters in favor of it and 1.14 million opposed. Atlantic City's first casino, Resorts International, opened on May 26, 1978.
Casino Employment and Vendor Business
In 2012, the casino industry in New Jersey employed more than 34,145 people, not including those workers who work in leased stores and restaurants within the casinos. Casinos purchased over $1 billion in goods and services from 1,808 New Jersey businesses.
Casino Revenues
Casino finances are usually reported in terms of gross revenue which is the amount casinos win from gamblers after all payouts have been made. Gross revenues were $2.9 billion 2013.
Casino Tax and Reinvestment Obligations
The state's 8 percent tax on casino gross revenues is devoted to the Casino Revenue Fund which funds programs that provide resources and services to disabled and senior citizens. Casinos are also required to invest 1.25 percent of their gaming revenues into projects screened and approved by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA). With a mandate to revitalize urban centers throughout the state, CRDA has funded a wide array of infrastructure, housing, economic, cultural and social development projects. The CRDA has invested more than $1.8 billion in these projects to date.
Casino Regulatory Agencies
The state agencies responsible for regulation and oversight of the casino industry are the Casino Control Commission (CCC) and the Department of Law & Public Safety Division of Gaming Enforcement. Legislation and regulations governing the operation of casinos in New Jersey are regarded as models by other jurisdictions where gambling has been legalized.
Operating Dates for Atlantic City Casinos
Resorts International (later known as: Merv Griffin's Resorts; Resorts Casino Atlantic City) |
May 26, 1978 |
Caesar's Boardwalk Regency (later known as: Caesar's Atlantic City) | June 26, 1979 |
Bally's Park Place (later known as: Bally's Atlantic City) | December 29, 1979 |
The Brighton (later known as: Sands Hotel and Casino) |
August 11, 1980 |
Harrah's Casino Hotel | November 23, 1980 |
Golden Nugget at Boston Avenue (later known as: Bally's Grand; The Grand; Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort; ACH; Atlantic Club Casino Hotel) |
December 12, 1980 |
Del Webb's Claridge and Hi-Ho Casino (later known as: Bally's Park Place & Claridge Hotel) |
July 20, 1981 |
Playboy Hotel & Casino (later known as: Atlantis; Trump Regency; Trump's World Fair) | April 1981 Closed 1999 Building demolished 2001 |
Tropicana Casino and Resort (later known as: TropWorld, Tropicana) | November 26, 1981 |
Harrah's Boardwalk Hotel Casino at Trump Plaza (later known as: Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino.) | May 26, 1984 Closed September 16, 2014 (Trump Plaza imploded February 17, 2021) |
Trump Castle (later known as: Trump Marina Hotel and Casino; Golden Nugget in the Marina District) | June 19, 1985 |
Showboat Casino Hotel |
April 3, 1987 |
Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort (later known as Hard Rock Hotel & Casino) | April 2, 1990 Closed October 10, 2016. Hard Rock opened June 27, 2018 |
Borgata Casino & Spa | July 2, 2003 |
Revel Entertainment (later Ocean Casino Resort) | May 25, 2012 Closed September 2, 2014. Ocean opened June 27, 2018 |
In July 2006, the casinos in Atlantic City were forced to cease gambling operations due to a state-wide budget crisis. State regulators, whose presence is required for gaming operations, were prohibited from working. The casino floors were closed for three days. Casinos were also shuttered during Hurricane Gloria in September 1985, Hurricane Irene in August 2011, and Superstorm Sandy in October and November 2012. On March 16, 2020, the casinos were forced to close temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Transcripts of legislative hearings, government reports and studies from the early years of casino development in Atlantic City
- Periodicals covering the casino industry, such as:
- Casino Chronicle, a weekly summary of news, financial and other business data from Atlantic City's casinos and the industry in general
- Michael Pollocks Gaming Industry Observer, a bi-monthly analytical report on casino business
- Casino Connection, the official publication of the Atlantic City casino industry issued monthly
- Casino Journal, a monthly publication for casino information from around the world
- Casino Player, casino information from the gamblers point of view
- Annual and quarterly reports from the New Jersey Casino Control Commission and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority
- The National Gambling Impact Study Commissions report issued in 1999
A number of books have been written examining the early and ongoing results of Atlantic City's experiment with gambling. These include:
Cialella, Edward Charles. Casino Gambling in New Jersey: A Case Study of Predictions. Ed.D dissertation, Temple University, 1984.
Examines the early outcome of predictions made by proponents and opponents of gambling legalization.
Demaris, Ovid. The Boardwalk Jungle. New York: Bantam, 1986.
Looks at organized crimes attempts to hijack Atlantic Citys nascent casino industry.
Mahon, Gigi. The Company that Bought the Boardwalk: A Reporters Story of How Resorts International Came to Atlantic City. New York: Random House, 1980.
Story of the first casino to open in Atlantic City, with extensive background on efforts to legalize gambling in New Jersey.
Pollock, Michael. Hostage to Fortune: Atlantic City and Casino Gambling. Princeton, NJ: Center for Analysis of Public Issues, 1987.
Overview of the combined impact of casino gambling and organized crime on Atlantic City. City politics and casino management are also examined.
Sternlieb, George and Hughes, James W. The Atlantic City Gamble. A Twentieth Century Fund Report. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1983.
Authors present the case that, in the first five years, the social and economic impact of casino gambling failed to live up to its promise.
Teski, Marea, et al. A City Revitalized. The Elderly Lose at Monopoly. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1983.
Study of the "social dislocation and personal hardship connected with the revitalization" of Atlantic City following the legalization of casino gambling. Focus is on the city's senior citizens.


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Catalog Site Menu Search Site Beads by Design
585 Cobb Parkway S. Suite L
Marietta, GA 30060
email@example.com |
Beads by Design
Will be closed to attend Glass Craft in Las Vegas
April 4-8 2024
Open April 9th with our regular schedule
Welcome to Beads by Design website! (770) 425-3909 Regular Hours Monday 10 am-2 pm Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-6 pm Check us out on Facebook at Beads by Design https://www.facebook.com/Beads-by-Design-1415030512088927/?eid=ARBWyTwcVS4E4X5AuLD4Gxel0qACbEsrqbuuU2GCymh0AuxX5b4rpcoG4jOIkT0hV-y3Uk27re4JG3Yr Beads by Design is and has been a retail bead store in the city of Marietta Georgia since 1998. We have specialized in everything bead related. Located just 1 mile south of the Big Chicken, we provide the public with the necessary tools and materials to make their ideas and designs come to life.
Our stock is continually changing, every week adding new items and saying good bye to favorites. We carry many colors of Delica beads as well as Japanese seed beads in size 15, 11, 8 & 6. Fire polish and pressed glass beads, pearls, gemstones, Swarovski crystals and handmade glass beads.
Size 3 & 4mm Japanese square beads are continuing going in & out of stock as are triangles , bugles, and drop beads and many colors of 13 charlottes. Make us your jewelry making supply center providing tools,clasps, findings, wire in Sterling silver, copper, gold filled and many items in base metal and pewter.
Our classes can get you started or add to your useful skills. Try out our micro macrame class or develop your wire wrapping skills to include your favorite stones.
Always wanted to try out glass bead making? Take our one day class to introduce you to lampworking. All tools and glass are provided.
Others classes include but never limited to;
Loom, square stitch, Ndebele, right angle weave, spirals, netting, freeform stitches,
peyote, pearl knotting, Precious metal clay, crochet, embroidery, all forms of wire working and stringing.
Beads by Design is also a host to the Southern Flames Glass Bead Society. The organization meets monthly with workshops throughout the year. See Southernflames.org for more info.
November 2022 New Studio Partners with
Store hours are: Monday 10-2:00 PM
Tuesday - Saturday
Closed Sundays
©2024 Beads by Design. Powered by pappashop.com |


text: Two musicians witness a mob hit and struggle to find a way out of the city before they are found by the gangsters. Their only opportunity is to join an all-girl band as they leave on a tour. To make their getaway they must first disguise themselves as women, then keep their identities secret and deal with the problems this brings – such as an attractive bandmate and a very determined suitor.


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I've been having so much fun following our new kitten, Loki, around with a camera that I haven't cooked anything new this week. Instead, I'd like to show all of you fans of Loki a side of him you haven't seen yet. In most of his photos, he's staring soulfully into the camera, the picture of innocence. In reality, he's more likely to be found kicking all of the dirt out of houseplants, knocking everything off my desk, or racing through the house with his partner in crime, Leo. Their expressions often look a lot like this:
It doesn't look like they're having fun, but they are, and they're usually equally aggressive in their play fights.
Loki has been a real gift to Leo. Though Leo's now 5 years old, he has a lot of playful energy, which hasn't gone over well with our older cats. But now that Loki is here, he's leaving the other cats alone and finding that one small kitten is as much as he can handle.
Without further ado, here's Loki and Leo's first video, with soundtrack by Lorenzo's Music:
I'll be back soon with an actual recipe.


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Mark Bartlett
Regular price
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Limited edition print by Alaskan artist Mark Bartlett
Image Size: 22" X 11"
Edition Size: 350
Mark Bartlett was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. As a boy, he explored the interior of Alaska by riverboat and vehicle while accompanying his father on hunting and fishing expeditions. He was moved by the beauty and ruggedness of Alaska at an early age. During his life, he has been employed as a logger, commercial fisherman, welder, fiberglass repairman, and as a social worker. He currently lives in Sitka, Alaska, where he works as a full time artist.


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The conflict in Syria has garnered the attention of the world since its inception in 2011, prompting the international community to address issues of terrorism, chemical weapons, and the growing humanitarian and refugee crisis arising from the struggle. In 2012, the United Nations, the League of Arab States, and the Foreign Ministers of the world's leading powers agreed to the Geneva Plan, which sought to end the violence in Syria and facilitate a Democratic transition in the country. The plan, however, has thus far failed to be implemented and the conflict has only intensified, with tensions rising in the international community. Tensions have come to a high point in August and September of 2013 as UN weapons inspectors confirmed that chemical weapons were used in an attack near Damascus that killed more than 300 people. UN negotiations to craft a resolution to rid Syria of chemical weapons are the current focal point of disagreements between the United States and Russia. The framework of a deal to eliminate Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons was agreed upon by United States and Russian representatives in the UN on September 14th. However, negotiations are ongoing concerning the details of the deal and how it should be enforced, with the United States threatening the use of force if the chemical weapons are not given up.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Syria continues to escalate. The UN refugee agency estimates the number of refugees that have crossed the border since the conflict began in 2011 to be over 2 million, a number that is rising by 5,000 daily. The surge of displaced Syrians into Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq creates the immense challenge of providing the refugees with food, housing, and healthcare. Moreover, millions of Syrians remaining in the country are in need of humanitarian aid. UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos stated during an appeal for humanitarian aid in Syria that, "Ordinary women, men and children are bearing the brunt of this crisis" (UNOCA, 2013). Although humanitarian organizations have made an immense effort to help those in need, the escalating violence continues to place the Syrian people in danger.
Check out the video of the recent Teach-in on Syria, from the Center for Global Studies at UIUC.
Latest Books at UIUC Library on Syrian Conflict:
• Martini, Jeffrey; York, Erin; Young, William. (2013) Syria as an arena of strategic competition Santa Monica, CA: Rand Group.
• Pierret, Thomas. (2013). Religion and state in Syria :the Sunni Ulama from coup to revolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Wieland, Carsten., Almquist, Adam., Nassif, Helena.Hinnebusch, Raymond. (2013) The Syrian uprising: dynamics of an insurgency. Fife, Scotland: University of St. Andrews Centre for Syrian Studies.
Major News Outlets on Syria:
The Guardian – Latest news from Syria
CBS News In-depth coverage of Syria Crisis:


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Under Miller's proposal, the minimum wage would jump from $7.25 to $9.80 per hour over three years, and wages would then subsequently be adjusted for inflation each year. The federal minimum wage last was raised in 2007 from $5.15 per hour.
"Raising the minimum wage is about respecting work for the millions of Americans who work hard every day yet still live in poverty," Aaron Albright, a spokesman for the House Education and the Workforce Committee Democrats, said in an email.
"The fact remains that the minimum wage today buys less than it did in 1956," he added. "It's time to start valuing and respecting those who work hard and play by the rules."
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, introduced a similar bill in the Senate.
Although California's minimum wage is higher than the federal standard at $8 per hour, state labor advocates said wage improvements still need to be made.
"Eight dollars an hour is still not enough to support a family, and it's not even enough to support an individual who has hopes of a decent life," said Jacob Hay of Good Jobs LA, a group that advocates for workers' rights.
Proponents for the federal increase said the current minimum wage amounts to earnings of about $15,000 a year for a full-time worker, and because wages have not been tied to inflation, the real purchasing power of minimum wage has fallen to $6.77 per hour in the past three years. In California, the yearly paycheck for minimum wage employees who work 40 hours a week is about $16,600.
But business organizations oppose proposals that increase the minimum wage because they said it could reduce the number of jobs that are available in the first place.
"Mandatory wage increases hurt not only small businesses, but their employees as well," the National Federation of Independent Business states on its website. "Big corporations do not have to absorb the cost because most minimum-wage jobs are offered by small businesses. It has not been proven to reduce poverty or narrow the income gap and puts a stranglehold on America's top job creators: small businesses. The overwhelming majority of economists continue to affirm the job-killing nature of mandatory wage increases: mandatory minimum-wage increases end up reducing employment levels for those people with the lowest skills."
A study released last week by the National Employment Law Project, an employee rights advocacy organization, said most low-wage workers are, in fact, employees of corporations that are in a "strong financial position," the report said.
"Most of the low-wage employers that would be disproportionately affected by an increase in the minimum wage are in a strong financial position and can afford the cost of a higher minimum wage," the report states.
Policy discussions about raising the minimum wage long have been a battle of conflicting research over its true economic effects, said Jeannette Wicks-Lim, an assistant research professor at the University of Massachusetts' Political Economy Research Institute.
"The main reason why people are concerned about the impact on minimum wage of low-wage workers is over whether it will jeopardize business opportunities," she said. "There is a ton of research on this question, and the debate has been going on back and forth decades."
Wicks-Lim said the recent research shows minimum wage laws enacted in the past "have not had a negative impact on workers' job opportunities."
"Increases to minimum wage have not produced the loss of jobs in the ways that opponents of these types of proposals predict," she said.
In addition to the federal bill, there also are efforts to increase the minimum wage in San Jose, where voters will consider a ballot initiative in November that would give minimum wage workers a raise to $10 per hour. Wages also would be adjusted for inflation.
The proposal emerged from a San Jose State University sociology class taught by Scott Myers-Lipton. "Faced with the rising costs of gas, food, and tuition, the students concluded that making a wage of $8 an hour was simply not enough to live in Silicon Valley," he wrote in an email.
The initiative is partially modeled on a wage policy in San Francisco that establishes a higher minimum wage than the rest of the state at $10.24 per hour.
Business organizations said the San Jose initiative would negatively affect the local economy. "If $8 an hour is not livable, then neither is $10, frankly," said Tab Berg, a consultant for a coalition of business groups called Save San Jose Jobs, Oppose Government Mandated Wage Hike.
Under the initiative, the increase in wages "isn't going to be a significant change for workers, but what it will do is limit the number of jobs that are going to be available at that wage level, and it will be worse off for the people that they (the bill proponents) say they are going to help," Berg said.
Small-business owners in downtown San Jose's San Pedro Square Market said recently that while they are sympathetic to minimum wage employees and supported the raise in concept, they also had concerns.
Rose Mendoza, who owns Ay Dios Mio, a boutique specializing in Mexican folk art accessories and gifts, said increases to the minimum wage should be tied to an economic benchmark like the Consumer Price Index.
"I want a raise every year, and so do minimum wage workers," said Mendoza, who also works in the finance department of tech company Intel. "I support an increase, but it should be done annually and tied to an economic indicator, and then I think it would be very fair to employers, and workers could keep up with inflation."
Mike Millares of The Showroom, an apparel store, said he also feels conflicted about the minimum wage proposal. He opened the shop in May and said, "Technically, we're still starting."
"I understand the need for a raise to minimum wage, but it makes me really not want to hire someone," he said.
And while Marcus Sparks, 18, helped spread the word about the rallies in Sacramento, he will not participate in them because he will be earning minimum wage that day as a fry cook at a Sacramento-area McDonald's.
Sparks will start college at American River College in the fall and he said he hopes to start his own clothing line one day. He said he supports efforts to increase the minimum wage because having more money in his pocket will help him pay for books, art supplies and food.
"My mother is struggling, and the reason I want to do better for myself is because I don't want to have to depend on her," he said.
Sparks said he would like to get a raise of about $2 per hour so he could earn $20,000 a year.
"I could pay more bills and not depend on others," he said. "It would make it easier to live and to live comfortably."
Story courtesy of our media partners at California Watch (A Project of the Center for Investigative Reporting)


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Investing for retirement is a long-term journey. Whether your retirement is 40 years away or right around the corner, it's important to remember that retiring from your career is just the beginning. Your savings may need to last 20 to 30 years or longer.
Short-term market volatility is inevitable and to be expected. It is important to learn how to maintain your strategies for pursuing your retirement goals and not veer off course due to fluctuations in the market.
Before you react to fluctuations in the market, consider these investment basics:
Investment performance matters, but what matters most is making sure you are saving enough to reach your goals. How much you invest matters more than how you invest. Start early and contribute enough to make sure you can retire on your terms. Don't abandon your savings plan based on market performance.
Save consistently. Contributing equal amounts on a regular basis, regardless of which way the markets move, can help reduce your overall average purchase price over time. This strategy is referred to as dollar-cost averaging. For the strategy to be effective, investors should consider their ability to continue investing during periods of falling prices.
Consider regularly rebalancing your portfolio. Reviewing your original asset allocation and rebalancing your assets can help to adjust for any recent market volatility. Getting back to your target mix, or rebalancing, sounds simple but often turns out to be psychologically difficult. That's because it requires selling assets that have performed better for you and buying those that haven't done as well. Consider setting up automatic rebalancing with your plan provider if you find your asset allocation is off course.
It's tempting to want to take action when markets are volatile; however, that's exactly when you shouldn't act on emotion. Try to take a step back and gain perspective on your long-term goals and asset allocation. Don't let the day-to-day market chatter send you off course. If your reasons for investing haven't changed and you have a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and cash investments, doing nothing may be best.
Diversification, asset allocation, and dollar-cost averaging do not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. Rebalancing may have tax consequences, which you should discuss with your tax advisor.


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Brussels – After a bullet in the leg ended his four-month flight from the law, Salah Abdeslam started a legal fight Saturday against his extradition from Belgium to France, where the president and the families of 130 victims want the top suspect in the Paris attacks to stand trial.
In Paris, prosecutor Francois Molins said during an interrogation session on Saturday that Abdeslam told Belgian officials that he had "wanted to blow himself up at the Stade de France" on Nov. 13 but that he backed out at the last minute. Molins did not say what caused the 26-year-old purportedly to change his mind.
Abdeslam was shot Friday along with a suspected accomplice when they were captured by Belgian police during a massive anti-terror raid in Brussels. He was found at an apartment a mere 500 meters (yards) from his parents' home, where he grew up.
On Saturday, he was discharged from the St. Pierre hospital in Brussels, questioned by authorities lying down because of his gunshot wound, and then officially charged with "participation in terrorist murder" in the Nov. 13 Paris attacks. France quickly issued a new European arrest warrant with more charges to speed up his extradition to a June 18 deadline.
French President Francois Hollande made it clear he wanted Abdeslam back in Paris, the city he fled after the November carnage. The suspect's Belgian lawyer made it clear he would fight extradition.
Lawyer Sven Mary said since there was a criminal investigation in Brussels, "we don't need him in France. We need him in Belgium." He said any hasty extradition would be motivated by a sense of guilt since the attacks were prepared and coordinated in Belgium and several attackers came from Brussels.
"Perhaps we should tone down our groveling to compensate for the sense of guilt we feel toward France," Mary said after he and Abdeslam met with a Belgian investigating magistrate.
Abdeslam's capture in the Brussels neighborhood of Molenbeek after four months on the run brought relief to people who have seen his "wanted" poster all over the two European countries for months.
Hollande warned that more arrests will come as authorities try to dismantle a network involved in the attacks that they now say is much larger than originally suspected. The Islamic State group had claimed responsibility for the Paris carnage.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve called Abdeslam's arrest a "major blow" to the Islamic State group in Europe, but warned that the threat of new attacks remains "extremely high."
Belgium's prime minister also said "the fight is not over."
Molins, the Paris prosecutor, said Abdeslam is suspected not only of being a "key actor in the action" last November in the French capital but also of the logistical planning for the deadly attacks. He said French authorities suspect him of bringing numerous "terrorists" to Europe in the months leading up to the attacks and conducting multiples trips around Europe.
Often using false identities, Abdeslam rented cars starting last July, Molins said, travelling north from Greece and Italy, hitting Hungary in August, Austria in September, and Germany and the Netherlands in October.
Investigators believe Abdeslam drove a car carrying gunmen who took part in the Nov. 13 shootings, rented rooms for them and shopped for detonators. Most of the Paris attackers died on the night of the attacks, including Abdeslam's brother Brahim, who blew himself up.
Abdeslam will appear before a pretrial court on Wednesday, which will decide whether he stays in jail for up to another month.
"If he starts talking, then I presume it will mean he stays longer in Belgium," Belgian federal prosecutor Eric Van der Sypt told The Associated Press.
A 2002 agreement among European Union nations speeds up the extradition process — and for especially grave crimes such as terrorist acts the procedure goes even faster.
"Firstly, the legality of the arrest warrant, the European arrest warrant, has to be checked carefully," said Mary, the defense lawyer.
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel told a news conference that his government has no "political objections" to handing Abdeslam over to the French, but wants to fully respect Belgian judicial procedures.
Belgian prosecutors said they were not sure of the identity of the presumed accomplice arrested with Abdeslam and also charged with "terrorist murder." They said he is believed to have used fake Syrian and Belgian documents in two different names.
Meanwhile, two others detained with Abdeslam were released on Saturday, while a third was charged with belonging to a terror group and hiding criminals.
Two other people believed linked to the Paris attacks are still being sought, including fellow Molenbeek resident Mohamed Abrini and a man known under the alias of Soufiane Kayal.
Samia Maktouf, a French lawyer for several survivors and relatives of Paris attack victims, urged Abdeslam's immediate extradition.
"Apart from his (medical) condition, I don't see what might delay his extradition," she told the AP.
After the bloodbath, Abdeslam evaded a huge French dragnet to return to Brussels. He was believed to have slipped through police fingers multiple times despite an international manhunt. At one point, Belgian authorities locked down their capital for several days in November but failed to find him.
As reported by Vos Iz Neias


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[Video designed for full screen viewing. Click icon in video image to expand.]
HeadCon '13: WHAT'S NEW IN SOCIAL SCIENCE? (Part VII)
Laurie Santos: What Makes Humans Unique
The findings in comparative cognition I'm going to talk about are often different than the ones you hear comparative cognitive researchers typically talking about. Usually when somebody up here is talking about how animals are redefining human nature, it's cases where we're seeing animals being really similar to humans—elephants who do mirror self-recognition; rodents who have empathy; capuchin monkeys who obey prospect theory—all these cases where we see animals doing something really similar.
Laurie Santos is Associate Professor, Department of Psychology; Director, Comparative Cognition Laboratory, Yale University.
I'm going to talk about some new findings in my field, comparative cognition. I'm interested in what makes humans unique. There are findings that I think are fantastically cool, in that they might be redefining how we think about human nature, but first they're going to pose for us some really interesting new problems.
I'm doing this, in part, because I think already having redefined human nature in the last couple of years is sort of a tall order, and that scared me, but also because I think that open questions about human nature can actually be more fun and I couldn't help but use this audience to kind of get some feedback on this stuff.
The findings in comparative cognition I'm going to talk about are often different than the ones you hear comparative cognitive researchers typically talking about. Usually when somebody up here is talking about how animals are redefining human nature, it's cases where we're seeing animals being really similar to humans—elephants who do mirror self-recognition; rodents who have empathy; capuchin monkeys who obey prospect theory—all these cases where we see animals doing something really similar.
Today, I'm going to talk about two sets of findings where we're seeing, at least in the case of nonhuman primates, young nonhuman primates doing something really different than humans. In one case they're doing something different than humans, which you might think of as cognitively less rich. That makes the human looking like, "Wow, they're super smart." But in a second case they're doing something that looks like animals in this case, so the nonhuman primates are doing something that's cognitively a bit more rational, but I think it's also going to lead to some deep insight into human nature. So those were what I took my marching orders to be, and now I'll sort of jump into two separate findings.
As I do that I'm going to violate another principal immediately that John told me to do, which is to stick to questions and findings that are very, very recent. The first set of findings bear on a question that's, in fact, very, very old, and it's a question that Premack and Woodruff posed way back in 1978, asking the question of whether or not the chimpanzee or any other animal has a theory of mind. What Premack meant by this question was, does the chimpanzee look out into its world and see all these agents just behaving—doing different behaviors? Or do they do what we do, which is to intuit inside everybody's heads all these things going on—things like intentions, and theories, and beliefs, and desires, and so on?
This is a very old question, as I said this was 1978. Some of us around the table weren't born yet, but some of us around the table thankfully were born and were writing important critiques of Premack and Woodruff studies, (Dan) which were really important to the field, because it got off the ground this question of what could actually count as evidence for this question. We can verbally talk to each other and come up with the idea that we think of each other as having beliefs and desires, but how could you ask this of a non-linguistic creature? What would really count as evidence that they're thinking not just about behaviors, but about these mental states that are different from behaviors?
...if you really want to know whether an organism is thinking in terms of other individuals' behavior, or thinking in terms of what's going on inside another individual's head, you have to use these creative kinds of cases where what they would do if they're monitoring behavior is different than what they would do if they were thinking in terms of what's going on inside somebody's head.
Dan, and Zenon Pylyshyn and others who commented on this really important paper came up with a set of marching orders for the researchers at that time about how you could design studies to potentially tell the difference. That's what launched, in the eighties, this long field of what's been known as false belief studies. Many of you know about this, but for those that don't, please just be patient with me.
These are studies which are trying to look at whether or not people are actually representing the beliefs inside someone's head as distinct from their behaviors by using this special case of false beliefs—this special case where people are doing behaviors that don't necessarily match what you might see in reality. So if I had a false belief that this event was over, I might do something crazy in my behavior like, get up, take my microphone off, go inside, have a couple beers, and so on. That would be different than what I should really be doing in reality—what reality should be telling me—but there's this sort of false content in my head, this sort of false thing that's going on. And, cleverly, folks pointed out that if you really want to know whether an organism is thinking in terms of other individuals' behavior, or thinking in terms of what's going on inside another individual's head, you have to use these creative kinds of cases where what they would do if they're monitoring behavior is different than what they would do if they were thinking in terms of what's going on inside somebody's head.
This launched this whole set of inquiry in the field of developmental psychology, where I think developmental psychologists had a bit of a leg up on those of us who are comparative cognition researchers, because they had the tool of language to ask children about different scenarios. This led to a long history of research showing that it seemed like there was some important developmental changes over the first couple years of life, and children's ability to think about what's going on inside the heads of others. The comparative researchers, though, were a bit stymied, and they came up with a lot of experiments that, even though they didn't have the fantastic commentaries that came after Premack and Woodruff's paper, I think if they had, people like Dan, and Pylyshyn and others, would say the same thing, "These aren't good tests to really get at what's going on in terms of what other animals know about other's mental states."
This was the state of the field well into the nineties, until researchers started coming up with what I think are somewhat better tests that use these nice nonverbal measures to come up with good tests of whether or not other animals have false beliefs. Here's where I have to kind of give a nod to a conversation we were having earlier about the "Noble" Prize, which for those that don't know watching this, would be a potential prize they were hoping someone out there would donate lots of money for so we can give prizes to researchers who, upon having evidence that their idea was wrong, admitted that their idea was wrong.
Here I have to give a shout out to one potential winner of this, who is Mike Tomasello, who in 1997 wrote a book that said, "I don't think any other animal has any representation of other individual's mental states," and in 2003 he wrote a paper that updated that and said, "Because of new evidence I have to say that I was completely wrong in that book. I published that book, and I was wrong. Now there's good evidence that they do."
What's that evidence? Well, the evidence comes from a variety of different tasks showing that other animals seem to process information about other individual's perception or visual access. One version of this type of test asks: do other nonhuman animals actually pay attention to what other individuals can see? So if you give them the option of trying to deceive somebody who is looking away versus somebody who is looking at a piece of food, what you find is on the first trial with no training, nonhuman primates know who to steal from; they steal from the guy who can't see.
They also seem to know something about the fact that visual access passes into the future. So if somebody saw something at one point, they might recognize that that past visual access predicts that that individual might know something about what's happening in the future, and, therefore, won't steal from that individual, and so on. As Mike reported, we're starting to get more evidence that primates are doing better than we thought, but so far there hadn't been a really good test that would qualify for the kinds of critiques that Dan and others brought up.
Until such time as a group of clever developmental psychologists came up with a very good nonverbal false belief test—a nonverbal test that allowed us to show that maybe these might be representing something that's going on inside somebody's head, and we, as comparative cognition researchers, like it very much when developmental psychologists are clever like this, because when they come up with a good nonverbal test, we can then take it and do it ourselves and get the same answer.
And this is what happened a couple years ago when Onishi and Baillargeon came up with a good nonverbal test of false beliefs that they used in 15-month-old infants, that we and others were later able to import to nonhuman primates.
And here's how the test goes. Imagine that I say Danny, in this case, is either a monkey or an infant, and you're watching a display of me acting on the world. Later I'm going to ask the predictions you make about my behavior. Imagine, if you will, that I have a PowerPoint that shows an image of me with two different boxes where I'm hiding objects. So Danny, just this casual observer, will be watching as I hid an object in one of these boxes—I'll hide it in the box on the left. The question is where do you think I'm going to look? Well, if you were correctly representing that I had a true belief, you might expect me to reach over here. However, you might find it surprising, if you understood my true belief, that I would reach to the second box that didn't have this object that I desired.
It turns out that both 15-month-old infants and, in our case, Rhesus Monkeys show that effect. If you monitor how long they watch this event, or quasi-measure their attention or their surprise, they look longer at this event where I reach in the wrong spot. So we're just saying they're tracking information about what I might know about the world and how I'm going to act. The question is what happens in this critical case of a false belief, where reality should be telling me to do something, but my belief, if you understood it, would be telling me to do something else. This would be a case where again two boxes, I would place an object in one box, and as I wasn't looking, the object would move to the other side. Now if you're tracking my belief you should expect me to go to the box where the object was, but if you were analyzing my actions just in terms of my behavior, you might expect me to go where the object is because of course that's where it is.
What do 15-month-old infants do? The 15-month-old infants, when they see me put an object here, they see it move to the other side, they expect me to reach over here, and they're very surprised if I reach in the correct box. And this was some of the first evidence that within the second year of life babies might be tracking another individual's false belief, published in Science, this was a great thing. What we did was to say, "Ah, this is a fantastic test. Let's apply this to our macaque monkeys." I have to be honest, when we first did this test, I assumed if 15-month-old infants are tracking this information, that's exactly what the monkeys are going to do.
So, again, the test is put the object here, person's not looking, object moves over here. And as I hit the button on our stats package, and looked at all our data, as I hit the button to generate the means, I thought we're going to see one of two patterns.
The thing that was really curious was that we didn't see either of those two patterns. What we saw was that in both cases the monkeys looked very little at these different options. They looked very little when I put the object here, it moved, whether I reached here or whether I reached here. And that was really different than what we'd seen in the other case. And they said, "Why?" What it looked like is that the monkeys aren't just behaviorists, in this sense. They're not just tracking what my behavior is. They don't expect me to reach where the object is. But the monkeys might not have a full-blown representation of another person's belief, the content of where it is.
What it seemed that they were doing is they were tracking our visual access. We, as researchers, keep referring to this as knowledge, although we take it that this is not what philosophers refer to as knowledge, but monkeys are tracking our historic vision access and expecting individuals to act on it. What happens when you lose that visual access is that all the representations go away, all bets are off. You're just ignorant. And the monkey might expect you, or Danny in this case, might expect you to look on the moon, because you don't actually know where the object is. This was surprising to us, because it wasn't the kind of result we expected. As we followed up on this, it turns out that the monkey system for thinking about how we act seems to, again, not have any representation of other's beliefs, but it seems to be relatively sophisticated in its own right.
By 15 months of age babies seem to be tracking other individuals' false beliefs, but this raises this question of whether or not they have this other same system that's going on under the surface, that's also tracking this visual access, too.
Well, the first thing we've learned is that it seems to take into account what other individual's inferences are, and this is work not by me, but Mike Tomasello and his colleagues looking at the kinds of simple inferences you might make about where a piece of food is hidden. So they did this clever experiment with chimpanzees, where they had a delicious piece of food that they hid behind a screen, and when they lifted the screen, there were two pieces of cloth on the table, one that was totally flat, and one that was beveled exactly in the shape of the food. They asked: can chimpanzees smartly make the inference that the food has to be hidden under the beveled thing? The answer is yes. Not so surprising. Chimpanzees are pretty smart.
The surprising thing is that chimpanzees can also represent in another chimpanzee that same inference. So if they watch a different individual have this test where they see a piece of food hidden, one is upright, they have the same intuition that the chimpanzee should search in that spot.
The second, even more surprising thing we found is that the way the monkeys seem to shut off their inference about whether you have visual access or whether you have knowledge seems to actually be pretty sophisticated, and seems to not bear on what you may expect from behavior. So here's this test that we ran. Again, in one of these situations Danny would be watching me hiding different objects. You'd watch as I hid the object in this location, and just as I couldn't see, it popped right out and went right back in. So all the features of the world should tell where I'm going to reach, I should reach over here. But this is not what we find in the nonhuman primates. What we find is that they, again, say well, you lost your visual access. You should be ignorant. You can search on the moon. So even though all these features of the world are telling them the way we should behave, we seem to have this interesting disconnect.
Why am I telling you all this stuff? First, I think we're finally getting some important insight into this age-old question that Premack and Woodruff gave us about whether or not other animals are mentalists. And I think the answer is that they don't seem to have representations of other's false beliefs, but they might not be as tight a behavior as we thought in the first place.
The second insight, and the reason I think this bears importantly on human nature, is it seems like we have a phylogenetically old system to track information about an individual's visual access that seems to be present in monkeys, and we have no idea yet whether or not it's present in humans as well. By 15 months of age babies seem to be tracking other individuals' false beliefs, but this raises this question of whether or not they have this other same system that's going on under the surface, that's also tracking this visual access, too. And I think that makes some interesting predictions about whether you get some disconnects between cases of these two systems, cases where what you're tracking with the sort of phylogenetically earlier system tells you something different. I think those kinds of questions would be very interesting to explore, and might redefine the way we're thinking about how other animals track other minds.
So that's set of questions number one, which I, in part, wanted to tell you because I think Mike Tomasello should win the Noble Prize; he'd certainly be getting my vote. The second set of studies I wanted to tell you about I think are even more relevant for some of this stuff we've already talked about, because I think in some ways they fall out of this case of us being a species that has a phylogenetically relatively recent system for representing other's beliefs. And the possibility I think is that when natural selection builds in new systems, they tend to be a little bit kludgy and they might actually have some problems inherent in them.
This raises the question of how we deploy our systems for representing other's beliefs. How is that we look out into the world and think that Danny might have a certain belief about something, but he's ignorant about something else. How quickly do we deploy these things? And there's a couple different options. One is that we're kind of cognitively lazy. We should only deploy these kinds of complicated systems in these cases where we really, really need to. So if Josh were to give me some complicated moral scenario about some guy knew something, but somebody had another belief, I would have to turn on all this machinery to make sense of it. But I shouldn't be kind of doing it haphazardly, just when there are kind of random things around the screen.
The second set of results I wanted to tell you is that it seems like that's not actually the case. It seems like there might be some interesting automaticity to the extent to which we turn on our mindreading abilities. And it seems like this automaticity might be different in nonhuman animals. This comes from a study that came out by Agnes Kovacs and her colleagues recently in Science, where she was asking, again, about the automaticity with which we start thinking about another individual's beliefs.
And it must have been the most boring study ever for subjects to do, because what it involved is just a subject, say Danny, in this case, is just tracking an object that's moving behind an occluder and all Danny's task was is to say when the object fell behind the occluder and the occluder went away, does he think the object is there or not. Just a basic visual detection test. And, of course, since we're tricky cognitive scientists, what we'll do is have some trials in which the object looked like it went back there, but when the screen falls, it's gone. And, of course, even though Danny is a fantastically smart person, he's going to make errors and be slower when I mess with him in that way. And that's just what you find. No surprise there.
The question is what happens in the case where there's another individual who happens to also be watching the scene, who has a different perspective than you do, who might even have a different belief about what you're seeing than you do, and the way Kovacs and colleagues tested this was to put a cartoon Smurf head on the screen, so the Smurf is on the screen while Danny is doing this task. It's completely incidental. Subjects know the Smurf doesn't matter at all. But it sometimes shares Danny's belief. Sometimes it sees it go back there just like Danny, and the screen drops, and it's gone. And sometimes it actually has a different belief. Sometimes it turns away at this critical moment where the object moves.
And the question was, even though this is a cartoon Smurf, even though it's completely incidental from the task, does it affect the way Danny responds? And I think the surprising answer is yes. What you find is that if the Smurf thought something was back there, even in the case where Danny didn't, he speeded up. So he doesn't take a reaction time pause for a belief that he would have had that was false. There's another individual in the scene who has that belief.
What does this mean? Well, it means a couple things. One is that we might be implicitly tracking the perspectives and beliefs of a variety of other individuals around us. This is the thing that Ian Apperly and his colleagues refer to as altercentric interference. We might be getting this interesting interference by other people's beliefs, other people's contents, even though we know them to be different from our own.
Why am I, as a comparative person, telling you this? Well, we've recently been able to run a study like this on nonhuman primates, and what we find is that the monkeys are a lot more rational than people in this sense. They don't seem to be automatically computing other individual's visual perspective, and they don't seem to get messed up. In this sense the monkeys react as though if they saw the object back there, it's back there. If they didn't, it didn't. Okay?
What are the implications for some of this stuff? Well, I really wish Fiery was still here, because one of the implications, I think, is that we might have automatic systems for tracking what other individuals know, and speculatively I can extend this to what other people intend, what other people's attitudes are, and so on. These things might deploy automatically and be relatively under the hood in a way that we might not expect, but that's exactly the kind of mechanisms you might need for the sorts of uniquely human things Fiery was talking about—namely things like social learning, namely things like picking up on other's reinforcement histories, all the kinds of things that humans do that we think of as unique —might rely on this kind of kludgy mechanism, where we just get interference with the contents of our own mental states versus somebody else's.
Is this really true? Do we see any data that something like this might really be happening? This is an extra third line of comparative studies that are coming out that I'll tell you about, which is some interesting work on the cases in which other animals can socially learn from us, and cases in which humans might learn from others in a way that's less rational than other animals.
One of the leftover empirical results from the 1990s is often folks think that other animals can't imitate. It's not true. They can actually follow our own actions and imitate, but they tend to do it in relatively select situations. What are those situations? Well, it tends to be situations in which they, themselves, don't know how to do something. So if you give chimpanzees an opaque puzzle box and they have no idea how to open it, what they will do is they will watch how you open it, and they will follow exactly what you do. If you give, in contrast, chimpanzees a transparent puzzle box and they can kind of figure it out, they just go on the basis of what they know.
The critical question is what I've just told you predicts that humans might do worse at this task, and this is what Vickie Horner and Andy Whiten tested, where they gave these opaque puzzle boxes and transparent puzzle boxes to chimpanzees and children, and they gave them a demonstrator who wasn't a smart demonstrator, but who was doing something dumb. So imagine you see a puzzle box, you don't know how it works, but you see me take a tool, and I probe into the top of the puzzle box in this little opening, and then I use the tool to open up a door in the front and I take candy out. What you do is you then give this to children and chimpanzees. It's an opaque box. They don't know how this works. They do exactly what the human demonstrator did, they probe into the top and use it to open the box.
Now, the critical test is you bring out a transparent box and you can see that the box is just empty. All you can do is open the door and there's the candy. But you see this demonstrated. He painstakingly sticks the tool in the top, opens the thing. What do you do? Well, chimpanzees just cut to the chase. They just open the door and take the food. What do human four year olds do? They slavishly copy exactly what they see the human do. And you might think, well, the kid doesn't want to, you know, annoy the human adult, who's just been teaching them. A graduate student at Yale, Derek Lyons, did a whole variety of controlled conditions to show it's not that the kids think that this is normative. Watching an adult demonstrator has changed the way the kids think about the causal mechanism of this box. They think somehow, I don't know the causal mechanism, but you have to do this thing at the top, or else you can't open it.
This is very profound, and, again, it suggests that in some ways animals, in their noninterference or cross-mental states, might be more rational than us, but I think this provides a powerful mechanism for teaching, a powerful mechanism for the kinds of rewards structures that Fiery has talked about, and potentially a powerful mechanism to solve the chicken and egg problem that I was asking Nick about earlier, which is if we want to know why these crazy things transmit through networks, things like our attitudes, or whether or not we smoke, or whether or not we're obese, and so on, it might be that if we're constantly walking around automatically having interference between other people's attitudes and beliefs, that's a really easy way for just being around some friend to transmit these kinds of things.
All of this stuff I talked to you about at the end has been pretty speculative, but this is exactly the reason I wanted to talk about this stuff in front of you guys. I'm not sure, if you followed John's marching orders, you get deep insight into human nature just yet, but I think these new kinds of findings where we're seeing differences are pointing us to new directions not just in the ways that humans might be unique cognitively, but the way these different cognitive mechanisms might play out in a broader context, allows us to do all kinds of human thinking things, like culture, and so on.
Just to kind of round out the discussion we had last night at dinner, I hope I've posed some interesting new questions for you, given you some zany speculation, and talked to you about some spots where the jury is still out. Thank you.
DENNETT: My bumper sticker these days says, "Competence without Comprehension." The idea is that human comprehension is built up out of competences which are themselves relatively uncomprehending. The Whiten result fits beautifully into that, in that it even permits you to speculate that it's an adaptation for cultural transmission that we ape more than apes do, and this opens the gates for all sorts of advanced techniques that we can acquire, and then have in our toolkit, that we don't yet have to understand. They bring us benefits, and then we can build other things out of them, but we don't require any level of comprehension in order to take them on, and then they can help us develop comprehension later.
SANTOS: Yes. Although I think with some of the other over imitation results you might need to amend the bumper sticker to, "Competence, not comprehension, but then later comprehension," because I think the powerful thing about some of these results is not just that the kids followed the behavior, it's that they developed rich causal explanations based on the fact that somebody had an intent to do something. And so the thing that I find most fascinating is it's not just the behavioral transmission, what goes with it when you see an intentional human do something, it's the fact that it must have been done for a reason. There must be this explanation, and kids, based on this social input, are completely willing to override the physics.
One of the powerful results that Derek had is he asked the separate children how this object works, and all of them are sharp enough to exactly know the physics of how this object works. You see a human do a dumb thing on this object, this kind of strange thing that you wouldn't do. All of the kids override what they saw before, not that you just have to do it, but that this is how the object causally works, and they spin a ton of different interesting stories that don't make any physical sense to come up with how this works. So it's not just that you can get these things without comprehension, but seeing it build in a comprehension that may or may not be accurate, based on your knowledge.
CHRISTAKIS: The thing that you're saying now that prompts a thought in me, and it was also prompted by something June said earlier today was, of course, experimentally these are fascinating things, right, to think about the way you're describing them, and the experiments are so fiendishly clever, like it makes me want to switch fields, and do the experiments, and there's so much thought and creativity in making them. And, of course, when we do experiments, we isolate down to particular actions, and so forth.
But maybe it's the case that while it's seemingly "irrational" for the baby to behave this way in this clear puzzle box, in aggregate it's better for the organism to do what the adults do. And, of course, you know, it's like genes and competition, right? I mean you could have, you know, "dysfunctional genes," or emotions earlier we were talking about. I mean there may be ways in which across time it makes no sense for you to be happy when the world is collapsing, when we look at a single packet of time, but maybe on average, in fact, across time maybe it's good for you to feel happy no matter what's happened. I don't know. I'm making it up. But the point is if you expand your horizon maybe it's no longer as crazy. Maybe it's my resistance to not wanting to think that chimps are smarter than I am, but, you know, when you describe it like they are behaving more rationally, yes, in this particular case, but maybe more generally that's a price we pay for …
SANTOS: So it makes a prediction about the kind of extended phenotype in which we humans find ourselves in, which is that the social information we get is often pretty accurate …
CHRISTAKIS: And sometimes we're led astray. Yeah.
SANTOS: And sometimes we can get led astray. And for the kinds of physical environments where we, at least as modern humans find ourselves in, that's, for sure true, right? If I were just to use my physical intuitions to try to figure out this iPad, I would be completely screwed, but as soon as Josh hits one button and does it, then I have insight into this.
When Derek Lyons talks about some of these results, he always starts his talks with the latest whatever the winning new Rube Goldberg experiment is. He puts that up, and then a coconut, and he says the coconut is the most complicated thing in the chimpanzee world, this is the causal thing that they cannot figure out, whereas we deal with these causal systems that are incredibly complicated. And he chooses Rube Goldberg to say the beauty of these is that you can, with your naive physics, understand all this stuff, but that's the teeniest, tiniest crazy causal system that we have to deal with as humans. We're constantly faced with these causal systems that we just don't have the ability to understand, but other people do.
And I think the interesting thing, the reason I think this relates to Fiery's stuff, is that it might not at least be for complicated causal systems, it might be for elaborate social reward structures, elaborate sets of goals and behaviors that you want to link together, but you, yourself, haven't done yet, and I think we really need to look en mass atthose kinds of cases and ask the question: Do these kinds of low-level mechanisms work in all these cases, and do they ultimately derive the kinds of smart answers you're talking about?
CHRISTAKIS: Have you seen that YouTube video that went viral a year or two ago of a little baby, I don't know how old, holding a magazine, like an old-fashioned magazine, and going like this to try make the picture bigger? They have to learn, you know …
SANTOS: The other thing that you get out of this is the power of your social input, and one of the things you learn if you hang out with toddlers who have access to iPads, it's just how incredibly reinforcing these structures are. I think part of it is that they're reinforcing for that reason that Fiery is talking about, that they're getting incredible social input that this is a reinforcing thing. They see their parents and caregivers around these objects, interacting with them in a way that says this is the more important thing, than any food or anything. They're like the rats that were getting the cocaine except they're like the rats that are getting the iPad. But the key is the kids don't have to do that themselves. The inputs we're providing are getting sucked in in different ways.
KNOBE: It seemed like the answer you were giving to Nicholas was that what we really want to do is understand the causal structure of some object, but luckily there are people around who already know it. We're just kind of using them as a means to do this other task. But I wonder if there's any evidence for that view as opposed to another possible view that it's not really as crucially important for us to get the right answer about the causal structure of this object. It's just to get along with other people.
What we're really concerned with is not using other people as a means to correctly understand the causal structure of this object, but interacting with other people and working with other people in certain ways, and even if we get the causal structure of the object wrong, if we connect up with other people by doing it the same way they do, and we're better off.
SANTOS: Right. So if we make really strong cooperators, even if we don't understand how the box works, we still don't get attacked or whatever.
KNOBE: Suppose I have the option of getting it right, but everyone thinks I'm a weirdo, or getting it wrong, but everyone things I'm good. Maybe I'd be better off getting a wrong answer.
SANTOS: Yes. Well, the question is why it has to go with the wrong answer, though, right? So you could imagine a whole set of mechanisms of conformity that didn't go with the competence, plus comprehension, plus comprehension, extra part, right? You could imagine a whole case of conformity that was of the form, "Wow, like Josh is such a weirdo when he's opening the thing that way. I'll open it that way in front of Josh so he won't hate me, but as soon as Josh leaves, like that's it, because I know that that's not the way to do this. I just won't test the waters of being a jerk in terms of my conformity."
But that doesn't seem to be what kids are doing. So the fact that their causal analysis goes along with [what others do] that suggests that it's not just about relating, or something similar, or setting up your ingroup to do actions in the same way. The fact is that what goes along with it is a rich causal analysis that goes beyond what I think just if we're trying to get long. I mean maybe that might come along for the ride, and so on, but I think we need an extra thing to explain why that part comes, too, and I think that's the nice thing about some of these studies, is that they've kind of controlled for that possibility.
The way Derek did it was really elegant. So a child comes in, and they learn this task. They see the experimenter do things and Derek, as the experimenter, convinces the child that the experiment is totally over. The child is like, oh, the experiment is over, the kid gets their prize, everything is fine. And then Derek convinces the child that some emergency has happened. The emergency is there's a new child there, and we all forgot to check if the object was back in the thing. So somebody needs to open the object as quickly as possible while Derek leaves, and nobody is going to watch, but it's got to be incredibly fast. Nobody is going to watch you, and like it's very, very urgent. Derek runs out of the room, and what you see is not that the child stopped doing the stupid thing, they just do it really fast, and really urgently. It doesn't seem like it's about just relating. It seems like it's really changing their comprehension, and I'm not sure why you get that, but you do.
CHRISTAKIS: That's so clever.
Paperback [ 2011 ] | Hardcover [ 2013 ] |
Hardcover [ 2013 ] | Hardcover [ 2011 ] |
Hardcover [ 2011 ] | Hardcover [ 2013 ] |


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Digital Literacy, it's more than just process
Mat Newman April 30 2012 10:57:57
This Week in Lotus episode 97 resonated soundly with me this week, especially the discussion surrounding Digital Literacy. Darren Duke made the comment:"...If you're doing a 4 year degree ... the technology you use today is going to be invariably different to the technology when you come out..."
As an educator, one of the most important things I impart to my participants on any subject are the concepts they are learning about, before moving on to the process. Sure, I can teach the process for performing a Mail Merge in Wordperfect, AmiPro, WordPro, Word, LibreOffice, OpenOffice and Symphony, but more importantly, one should understand that a word-processing application is capable of combining data from another source to produce a final document with variable information (the concept).
Similarly, I have never taught a word-processing class without discussing the importance of Styles. Styles - after all - are the most important feature a word-processor contains that enable users to easily implement and maintain a consistent look and feel throughout their document. Discussing the concept of styles is just as important as teaching the process for creating and using them. If a user understands the concept, it enables them to sit in front of a new software application and using help resources, locate the process for implementing that concept within that unfamiliar application.
This - to me - is the crux of Digital Literacy.
It should not matter which particular software application is being used. If one has a high degree of Digital Literacy, then one understands the concepts that an application holds, and therefore only needs adjust their behaviour while using that application to execute the process that will provide the desired outcome.
I often find it interesting to review how a user utilises a particular application. A classic example recently was a user who had built a sophisticated navigation tool for their fellow users that enabled them (via hyper-links) to navigate through the various documents and forms located on a shared drive to easily locate the information they required. Sound like a classic intranet? A Sharepoint or Connections infrastructure? Or even Lotus Notes? Nope. It was all done inside Microsoft Excel.
Not to say that the user had done this 'incorrectly', or that they were using the 'wrong' tool, but simply; Were they using the tool best suited for the outcome they required?
Users who are familiar with a particular process (ie: the functions available within an application) will often fall back on that application to produce some really creative outcomes. Often because they lack the Digital Literacy to understand that there may be a more appropriate tool available to them.
So the next time you do some training, a demonstration, or presentation, why not spend a few moments explaining the concept before you launch into steps 1-2-3 of a process. You will enhance your presentation immeasurably because you will be helping to increase the Digital Literacy of your audience.
Thanks Darren, Stu and Jon for discussing this important topic.


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Disney Set to Distribute Future 'Indiana Jones' Movies
When George Lucas sold his 'Star Wars' empire to Disney, there was a question of who then would control Indiana Jones, as the films were made by Lucasfilm but distributed by Paramount. Today it was ironed out that Disney now controls the rights to all future Indiana Jones adventures.
Going by what Variety reported, it appears that Disney had the rights to the character and all future adventures when they bought Lucasfilm, but didn't control distribution or marketing. Now all that will be taken care of by Disney, though Paramount will still own the four previous films (so don't expect a new box set any time soon), and will be given a cut of any future Jones adventures.
And though Harrison Ford is currently 71, the possibility of a fifth entry is very real. At the time of the release of 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' Steven Spielberg, Lucas and Ford all suggested that they were game for more, while the last word about Harrison Ford's involvement with 'Star Wars: Episode 7' suggested that he would participate only if they started work on the fifth entry. Currently there is no script , but as Disney now controls this asset completely it's more than likely they will pursue a new 'Indiana Jones' film.


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Page content
Helpful Hints for a Successful
School & Youth Group Visit
Before your tour, consult these online resources.
Check the website for maps and accessibility information.
On the day of your tour:
Pick up your tickets at the Group Arrivals Building directly behind the Visitor Center. If you are touring with Colonial Williamsburg guides, they will meet with you to finalize tour plans and review expectations. The guides will board your bus and travel with you to the Revolutionary City. Since each guide can lead a maximum of 26 people through the town, please have subgroups identified on the buses based on the number of guides contracted.
Once in the Revolutionary City, buses may "stand" in designated areas only long enough for dropping off at the beginning of the tour and picking up at its conclusion. Buses may return to the Group Arrivals Building bus parking area or take advantage of the nearby Penske Bus Service Center while your group enjoys the city. Your guides will provide your drivers with maps and designate drop-off and pick-up points. Once you have disembarked from the bus, you will not see it again until the end of your tour.
What to take? What to leave?
You will want to travel lightly. Bring money for souvenirs and lunch. While cameras are welcome, please leave any other miscellaneous electronics on the bus. Chaperones, teachers, and group leaders may want to have cell phones for communication purposes, but please do not use them inside the sites or during interpretations.
Tour comfort tips.
You will be exploring the colonial capital on foot. The Revolutionary City is nearly a mile in length and nearly half a mile wide. The tour will be both inside and outside. Your group will be walking on surfaces that are uneven and include dirt, brick, wood, shells, and asphalt. Encourage all members of your tour group to wear comfortable walking shoes with socks.
Be prepared for touring in all weather conditions.
Make sure all group members have the following: rain gear, such as ponchos and umbrellas for wet weather; an extra sweatshirt or sweater for cooler conditions; sunscreen; a hat or cap; and water. (Keeping hydrated in the heat is extremely important.)
Museum Etiquette
Please help us preserve this historic town.
- Please refrain from eating gum, candy, or foods of any kind inside any of theHistoric Area sites.
- Please look with your eyes only, unless an interpreter invites you to sit or touch. Your interpreter knows the best places to provide opportunities for you to touch objects and take part in activities.
- Please refrain from using cell phones or other communication devices inside buildings or during presentations.
- While photographs are permitted, please be courteous when using your camera. Take care that you do not disrupt any presentations.
Enjoy, explore, and embrace the sights and sounds of an 18th-century town with us. We look forward to sharing our capital city with you and your group!


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The Contenders
Community Hall
(2 pics)
Very likely this house:
This one 12th ave streetscape might be worth mentioning
13th Avenue is 3 blocks of almost continuous streetscapes, as follows
These two late 40's duplexes are kitty corner to each other at 13th ave and 16th street, I haven't seen anything like these anywhere else in Calgary
End of 13th Avenue
Would the big modern window preclude it from being inventoried?
Very unique
The only other place I've seen some of these 'cat ear' houses is in Ramsay, no where else in Calgary.
2 houses from the late 20's, very rare
Streetscape from 2 angles (2 pics)
Streetscape beside the Inventoried brick apartment (3 pics)
Streetscape beside gross modern townhousing (see below for more)
Businesses fronting 17th avenue, not sure of heritage potential
I used to hate this, now I love it, top marks! (3 pics)
Misc Pics
Incredible.... Incredibly ugly that is!
These two "houses" used to look like the one below a year or two ago (2 pics)
Far west end, not sure if there's anything of note
These are typical of 12th ave houses, bunches of 2-6, split up by 50's and newer apartments. So much potential but due to apartment or townhouse zoning, the upkeep of the 12th ave house tend to be bare minimum. The one streetscape in the first section on 12th ave is a bit of an exception, at least architecturally speaking if not maintenance
On 10th and 11th aves, I noticed a random "flower" graffiti painted here and there.. and then I came across this stairway..


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Golden Brown Silk Crinkled Chiffon Fabric
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Width: 42"
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Fabric Care: Dry cleaning is recommended for all silks. If you prefer to wash at home, you must test a swatch before laundering the fabrics at home to avoid damaging the fabric. NY Designer Fabrics does not accept responsibility for fabrics that are incorrectly laundered.
Pattern: Solid Silk
Suitable For: bridal, eveningwear, overlays, lingerie, pants, blouses
Fabric Estimator: click here
*We highly encourage you to purchase a swatch prior to placing a yardage order.


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EVC-1122-VI impresses as part of extensive audio installation at Thai university
Integrated pro audio solutions from Electro-Voice, Dynacord and Bosch are providing an optimal combination of sonic performance, architecture-friendly aesthetics and ease of use in various newly constructed educational spaces at Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University (PSRU) in northern Thailand. Drawing from each brand's extensive product portfolio, installer PC O.A. Technology Co., Ltd. worked with Bosch project expert Mr. Malai Tassanai to specify systems for multiple classrooms, a conference room and a pair of small theatre spaces. Software-driven system designs, after-sales service and training all added value to the project.
Compact, high-performance systems were required to deliver an immersive, high-fidelity audio experience in each of the university's two 30-seat theatres, which are used for movie screenings, presentations, lectures, live music and more. The main loudspeaker in each space is an EVC-1122-VI Variable Intensity loudspeaker from Electro-Voice. This 12" two-way design incorporates a unique compound waveguide that combines long-throw and short-throw behavior to provide uniform pattern control and smooth frequency response across a rectangular audience area. A pair of EVC-1082/96 8" two-way models provide additional coverage from either side of the main VI enclosure. Six EVID-S8.2 distributed around each room enhance the surround-sound effect; a pair of ELX200-12S subwoofers reinforce the low frequencies. Each system is powered and processed by four Dynacord L1300FD 2x 650 W amplifiers with FIR-Drive. As with all the rooms in the project, SONICUE sound system software from Dynacord was utilized to optimize the performance of the EV loudspeakers (via presets), fine-tune overall system performance and address any acoustical challenges.
Three large classrooms – ranging in capacity from 500-800 seated students – and two 80-person function rooms feature equipment including more EVC-1122-VI loudspeakers, DC-One processing and ND76 wired vocal microphones; Dynacord CMS series mixers and C1800FDi 2x 950 W amplifiers; and Bosch LBC series ceiling speakers. 16 smaller classrooms (with seats for around 20 students) feature Bosch Plena mixer amplifiers with Bosch LA1 surface-mount column speakers and LBC ceiling speakers, with wall-mounted controls for easy volume adjustment. 112 Bosch LC1 ceiling speakers are used to cover the public areas outside of the classrooms.
A 20-seat meeting room features a Bosch DCN digital conference system, offering intuitive operation with high quality audio and data transmission. An EVOLVE 50 column loudspeaker system is on hand for portable sound reinforcement as needed, offering quick setup and room-filling coverage in a very compact footprint.
Lowrance Sound Company, Inc.
2132 Nailing Drive
Union City, TN 38261
(901) 885-4504


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Nail Polish - S'pas Chaud
Nail Polish - S'pas Chaud
S'pas chaud: a pearly and frosty olive green.
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The majority of nail polishes on the market contain multiple toxic ingredients that can be harmful to health. Also, while this information is often not shared, many nail polishes unfortunately contain animal-derived ingredients. For example, cochineal insect pigment is sometimes used to make reds more vivid, or guanine crystals, from fish scales or chameleons, are used to add luster and shine in cosmetics.
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Apply 2 thin coats of your favorite nail polish color, waiting about 5 minutes between layers. Finish your manicure/pedicure with a top coat and let it dry completely for another 5 minutes. For best results, use a base coat and top coat.
*Beauty tip: for best results, apply 2-3 thin coats of nail polish rather than one thick coat!
Size: 15 ml


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Welcome to While Wearing Heels!
So here's a little about me and my blog...
I suffer from Crafter Attention Deficit Disorder. I blame all the amazing blogs out there. So many amazing ideas, so little time to try them all. I have at least 3 or 4 crafts I am trying to complete at any given time. I wish sleep was less important, though I'd probably fill up that time with even more projects.
I was laid off about 3 years ago. I am loving being a stay at home mom to my adorable 4 year old daughter
and my mischievous doggie
BUT there are days I still want to be reminded I can put on my heels and still be me.
I guess that about sums things up for the moment.
I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to email me anytime at
whilewearingheels at gmail dot com.
You can also follow me on Pinterest to see what I am smitten with at the moment!
Thanks for stopping by!


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Getting Started
To begin planning your golf tournament at our The Wetlands Golf Course, just fill out the form on this page. A member of our professional staff will contact you in the coming days and answer all your questions. The Wetlands Golf Course in Lafayette is the hot spot for golf events in the area. Many local businesses and organizations host their outings and tournaments at our facility. Whatever your needs, we are equipped and ready to serve you.
What You Can Expect
The Wetlands Golf Course is a full-service Lafayette golf facility. From the standard outing packages which include green fees, cart fees, and range balls to the great snacks at our snack bar, we will address all your needs. When it comes to golf, our professionals know just what it takes to conduct a smooth event. Their years of experience will be evident from the moment you begin planning your event. The rolling terrain of The Wetlands Golf Course are the only "bumps" you are likely to experience with your golf event at our facility.
Bringing the Fun
The wide-open spaces of Lafayette, accented by our lightly wooded surroundings make for a perfect backdrop to any outdoor activity. In combination with the simple beauty of our The Wetlands Golf Course, your guests are sure to remark on how much they enjoyed their time. Beyond great golf, The Wetlands Golf Course also offers excellent dining options through various providers in the area. Make your best impression year after year as you entertain family, friends, or clients in style and comfort at The Wetlands Golf Course.
Use the form above to receive more information about our services.


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Even though technologies such as 100G and 400G have now come on the market, optical amplifiers still present challenges. But EDFA, YEDFA, and DWDM amplifiers are designed over a broad range of pump powers and provide ideal solutions in access, metro, and long haul and submarine networks. OFS's C-Band, L-Band, and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) sources are the best in the industry for Erbium-doped Fiber (EDF). OFS also provides Erbium-Ytterbium (EY) Fiber and gain blocks for high-power amplifiers in the CATV market.
Knowledge Base
Our scientists and engineers create the products and solutions that become industry standards. We publish their results and most important publications on our website.
They discuss a wide variety of topics ranging from our suggested solutions to technical problems to breakthroughs in numerous products.