text:
ASUS PN50 mini-PC Review: A Zen 2 Business NUC
by Ganesh T S on October 1, 2021 10:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Systems
- Asus
- Mini-PC
- Zen 2
- Ryzen Embedded
- Renoir
- Ryzen 4000
- Ryzen 7 4800U
Ultra-compact form-factor (UCFF) machines have been one of the major drivers in the resurgence of the PC market. The trend was kickstarted by Intel's NUCs in the early 2010s. These PCs have usually relied on low-power processors with compelling performance per watt metrics. AMD was largely absent in this market till the introduction of the Ryzen processors. While ASRock Industrial was one of the first to release a UCFF mini-PC based on the first-generation Ryzen embedded processors, multiple OEMs have lined up to utilize the second-generation AMD processors in their own high-performance mini-PC lineups.
The PN series represents the range of UCFF PCs from ASUS. The ASUS PN30 (a fanless PC based on Carrizo-L) was introduced in early 2020 as AMD's sole representation in the PN series. This was followed up in Q3 2020 by the ASUS PN50, and more recently, the PN51. While the PN30 was a low-end offering, the ASUS PN50 (which we are looking at today) makes a play for the high-end market by using the Renoir APUs in the Ryzen 4000 mobile series. The focus of the PN series in general, and the PN50 in particular, is more on small and medium-businesses rather than the home consumer base.
This is not our first look at the Renoir APUs in the NUC form-factor. We had reviewed another Ryzen 7 4800U offering in the ASRock Industrial 4X4 BOX-4800U late last year. Since then, Intel's Tiger Lake-based UCFF PCs have been introduced into the market. The electronics industry supply chain is continuing to face challenges, requiring business consumers to line up and qualify multiple options for deployment. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the performance and value proposition of the ASUS PN50 in this context.
Introduction and Product Impressions
Small form factor PCs have become one of the top choices for installation in business environments. Thanks to continued improvements in processor computing power as well as power efficiency, scenarios that require traditional tower desktops have shrunk considerably. UCFF systems fulfilling business requirements such as remote management and ease of deployment have become widely deployed in SMBs and SMEs. Intel's vPro offerings have been the mainstay in this market segment, with AMD's adoption of DASH for out-of-band client management enjoying comparatively limited success.
After the introduction of Zen 2-based APUs, there has been renewed interest in SMB / SME UCFF PCs based on AMD's processors. Thanks to TSMC's 7nm process and AMD's revamped microarchitecture, the Renoir APUs based on Zen 2 were able to offer stiff competition to Intel's flagship processors. In addition to retaining the multi-core leadership, the improvements enabled Renoir to to challenge Intel's offerings in in both single-threaded performance and power efficiency.
AMD prioritized the delivery of Renoir APUs to the notebook market, with mini-PCs following soon after. ASRock Industrial and ASUS were the first ones to launch UCFF systems based on these parts. Similar to the 4X4 BOX-4000 series of ASRock Industrial, the ASUS PN50 has four SKUs with CPU core counts of 4 (Ryzen 3 4300U), 6 (Ryzen 5 4500U), 8 (Ryzen 7 4700U), and 8 (Ryzen 7 4800U). The last one is the flagship in the Ryzen 4000 U-series, with the highest core count and fully enabled GPU, and the ASUS PN50 with the Ryzen 7 4800U is the one being looked at in this review.
The ASUS PN50 employs a well-ventilated plastic chassis measuring 115 mm x 115 mm x 49 mm to house the Ryzen 7 4800U SoC. This is an octa-core processor with SMT enabled (8C/16T) capable of operating with a TDP configurable between 12W and 25W. While the PN50 is available as a barebones PC from various e-tailers, ASUS has pre-built ready-to-deploy configurations for B2B customers - evident from the memory and storage options presented in the product technical specifications page. The company sampled us with a mid-tier configuration using the Intel SSD 660p and SK hynix DDR SODIMMs. The full specifications of our ASUS PN50 review configuration are summarized in the table below.
ASUS PN50 Specifications | |
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 4800U Zen 2 (Renoir) 8C/16T, 1.8 - 4.2 GHz TSMC 7nm, 8MB L3, 12-25 W (20W) |
Memory | SK hynix HMA81GS6DJR8N-XN DDR4-3200 SODIMM 22-22-22-52 @ 3200 MHz 2x8 GB |
Graphics | AMD Radeon Graphics (Renoir) - Integrated GPU with 8 CUs |
Disk Drive(s) | Intel SSDPEKNW512G8 (512 GB; M.2 Type 2280 PCIe 3.0 x4; Intel 64L 3D QLC) (Silicon Motion SM2263 Controller) |
Networking | Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2x2 802.11ax - 2400 Mbps) 1x Realtek RTL8111G Gigabit Ethernet Controller |
Audio | 3.5mm Headphone Jack Capable of 5.1/7.1 digital output with HD audio bitstreaming (HDMI / DisplayPort) |
Miscellaneous I/O Ports | 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (Front) 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (Front) 1x microSDXC UHS-I 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (Rear) 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (Rear) |
Operating System | B2B unit comes with Winodws 10 Professional, but we installed Windows 10 Enterprise x64 |
Pricing (As configured) | $630 (barebones) $774 (as configured) |
Full Specifications | ASUS PN50 Specifications |
An overview of the chassis design and arrangement of different ports is shown in the gallery below. It must be noted that the full-sized DisplayPort output in the rear panel is a configurable port. Models sold in the e-tailer channel in the US have this video output, but models elsewhere could replace it with a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, or a serial port. Customization is possible for B2B consumers with specific requirements for large-scale deployments.
The B2B version of the ASUS PN50 comes with Windows 10 Professional x64 pre-installed. Barebones buyers can install their OS of choice. BIOS updates and Windows drivers are available off te product support page. One of the key differentiation aspects of the ASUS PN50 over other UCFF PCs is the bundling of a wired keyboard and mouse in the package. While the build quality of the two components are just passable, they do help IT personnel in quickly deploying a system from a single package. In addition to the main unit, the other components of the package include a compact 90W power adapter (19V @ 4.74A), US power cord, a VESA mount, and associated screws.
Setting up a barebones system or getting access to the build components is as simple as popping off four screws from the underside of the chassis and sliding off the bottom panel. It must be noted that the 2.5" drive is mounted to this underside, and the act of sliding enables the SATA drive to connect to the pre-installed SATA drive receptacle in the main chassis. Slots for installing the SODIMMs and the M.2 SSD are also evident after opening up the unit.
As for networking support, the PN50 is equipped with an Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 adapter, which is common in contemporary high-end UCFF systems. ASUS also has certain configurations with 802.11ac Wi-Fi or even no Wi-Fi at all, but those are for specific B2B models not sold in the US e-tailer channel.
On the wired side, ASUS offers a single gigabit LAN port with the PN50. For customers who need faster wired networking, they do offer a custom option to install a 2.5 GigE adapter in place of the DisplayPort output. But again, this is only for custom configurations.
In the table below, we have an overview of the various systems that we are comparing the ASUS PN50 against. Note that they may not belong to the same market segment. The relevant configuration details of the machines are provided so that readers have an understanding of why some benchmark numbers are skewed for or against the ASUS PN50 when we come to those sections.
Comparative PC Configurations | ||
Aspect | ASUS PN50 | |
CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 4800U | AMD Ryzen 7 4800U |
GPU | AMD Renoir (Radeon RX Vega 8 / GCN5) | AMD Renoir (Radeon RX Vega 8 / GCN5) |
RAM | SK hynix HMA81GS6DJR8N-XN DDR4-3200 SODIMM 22-22-22-52 @ 3200 MHz 2x8 GB |
SK hynix HMA81GS6DJR8N-XN DDR4-3200 SODIMM 22-22-22-52 @ 3200 MHz 2x8 GB |
Storage | Intel SSDPEKNW512G8 (512 GB; M.2 Type 2280 PCIe 3.0 x4; Intel 64L 3D QLC) (Silicon Motion SM2263 Controller) |
Intel SSDPEKNW512G8 (512 GB; M.2 Type 2280 PCIe 3.0 x4; Intel 64L 3D QLC) (Silicon Motion SM2263 Controller) |
Wi-Fi | Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2x2 802.11ax - 2400 Mbps) |
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2x2 802.11ax - 2400 Mbps) |
Price (in USD, when built) | $630 (barebones) $774 (as configured) |
$630 (barebones) $774 (as configured) |
The next section provides the platform analysis - in particular, the differences compared to the ASRock Industrial's 4X4 BOX-4000 series products. This is followed by sections dealing with performance benchmarks before moving on to some discussions on power consumption and thermal performance.
32 Comments
View All Comments
meacupla - Friday, October 1, 2021 - link
I feel like, if Asus skipped the 2.5" SATA drive, they could have used a beefier heatsink to allow 25W operation with no thermal throttling. -
Integr8d - Friday, October 1, 2021 - link
I agree. The little fan would spin up that much less frequently. It's not bad though (and if I ran mine behind the monitor, I'm sure I'd never hear it). -
StevoLincolnite - Friday, October 1, 2021 - link
Not to mention a last gen Ryzen... -
Samus - Friday, October 1, 2021 - link
Agreed. They should at least consider a separate SKU that axes the 2.5" drive and slightly increases the heatsink surface area, as you said. This would cost almost nothing as a case rework wouldn't be necessary: all they need to change is the heatsink and perhaps the blower. -
YB1064 - Saturday, October 2, 2021 - link
Anemic 1GbE and a previous gen Ryzen...no thanks. -
dotjaz - Sunday, October 3, 2021 - link
PN50E1 has the 2.5GbE. As for lastgl gen APU, what's your point? 5000 series won't be much faster because it's still thermal limited. -
Samus - Monday, October 4, 2021 - link
Seriously like the Ryzen 4xxx-U's are slow or something...they're insanely fast. -
TheinsanegamerN - Thursday, October 7, 2021 - link
Just because they are fast doesnt mean people want to pay current gen pricing for a last gen product. -
powerarmour - Saturday, October 2, 2021 - link
It feels out of date already too, I'm not sure why anyone would want to buy this now. -
Oxford Guy - Saturday, October 2, 2021 - link
If companies don't include egregious flaws how is there an incentive to upgrade sooner rather than later? Fix one flaw, get a new one.


text:
I want to talk about an old childhood game tonight.
Go get your pillow, a sleeping bag, chocolate, popcorn, a stuffed animal or a doll, and slip into some cozy PJ's. I'll wait.
Seriously. I will.
*hums Jeopardy theme a few times*
Do you remember playing the telephone game when you were a kid?
Whispering something ridiculous into the ear of the person next to you who would then repeat it to the person next to them and so on until it got to the last person who would say it out loud?
It was never the same thing that it started as, was it?
(If it was, your friends had amazing hearing or no sense of humour).
The goal of this game is to show you how something you say can be twisted by others. It is a practice in watching what you say – thinking before you speak.
In this electronic age, it is still important to watch what you say but even more important to keep that filter in place when the keyboard and therefore the Internet is your outlet. It is easier, when you are behind a keyboard, to judge, to proffer advice, and to act as an expert.
Here's the thing – we are all still human. We have hearts, we have brains, and we live and breath. It is difficult to remember that the personas we talk to on a daily basis through our keyboards are PEOPLE.
I have said this time and again on this blog, in my chat, in my groups, on my blog's FB page – but I believe in treating people as adults regardless of their situation or condition. I am part of a community. I am not a dictator, I am not a medical professional, I am not at all capable of making a care decision for anyone other than myself. I find it heartbreaking when some people behave as if they are capable of making decisions for others.
Mental health is just as subjective as physical health. We all have our own baggage. However, our baggage is not a road sign for anyone but us. It does not grant us carte blanche permission to tell someone else who has articulated their own issues to a professional care giver they may want to give it a second thought. Ever.
One of the things I adore most about the #PPDChat community is their ability to function in a way that is uplifting and supportive without being judgmental regarding the treatment choices another mama needs to make for her own sanity. Not all communities are like this. I am beyond grateful the #PPDChat community embraces this concept.
The road into Perinatal Mood Valley is a steep one. The road out is curvy with plenty of blind turns and potholes. There are multiple ways out, not just one path. It is important to listen to your internal GPS as you navigate your way out of your personal darkness. Listening to someone else's GPS will result in driving in circles as you attempt to free yourself from the mind-boggling vortex.
You can do this. You are not alone. You will be well.
Your way.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
As I'm coming up on the 6th month anniversary of purchasing my investment condo, I thought now might be an interesting time to have a look at the ROI (Return On Investment) on my investment.
How to calculate this had me scratching my head a little, so I'll present the results and my methodology, and if this seems weird to anyone, please feel free to suggest other ways to calculate this.
After *ALL* regular, on-going costs (including condo fees, property taxes, insurance and mortgage INTEREST) I clear $256.62 / month. I took all the money I've put into the condo that WASN'T related to these expenses (e.g. ignoring mortgage payments, insurance payments, etc since I'd already accounted for them) and it adds up to $43,811.68 (remember this includes the down payment, legal fees, renovations, maintenance, etc). Therefore I've had a ROI of 3.51% (256.62*6/43,811.68) over the last 6 months, which is an annual ROI of 7.03%.
Just for interest's (pardon the pun) sake, I calculated my ROI WITHOUT mortgage interest factored in and it was 8.88% (17.77% annually). This is interesting just because the interest rate will probably be the largest variable that will change on future deals (it should be a lot more volatile then rent, labour/material costs or other fees involved).
So 61% of the cashflow is going to the bank, and 39% is going to me. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. Certainly I couldn't have done the deal without the bank's capital, and this should shift as time goes on (as the mortgage gets paid off, more of the cashflow will go to me each month). Additionally, any increases in the cashflow will go to me (just as any decreases would come out of my share, not the banks).
Ignoring the mortgage, my ongoing costs are about half the rent I'm collecting. I've read that the non-mortgage expenses of a rental property will usually be 45% of the market rate rent (in a normal, balanced rental market). This includes management fees (and people who claim to be running a property for a lot less than 45% usually are doing the management themselves and ignore the value of their time). Property managers usually charge 10% of the gross rent. Therefore I'm either significantly under-charging for rent (which I don't think is the case as I tried to rent it out for more and couldn't) or my expenses are very high compared to other rental properties (which I believe IS the case, people often say renting condos isn't very cost effective).
Certainly not amazing, but nothing to sneeze at either (and I've learned quite a bit while earning that 7.03%).
This ignores vacancies (I'm assuming the tenants moved in the instant I bought which wasn't the case), any maintenance expenses beyond the condo fees (which I'm hoping will be minimal), and my time and effort.
It also ignores appreciation of the value of the property, tax implications (postive and negative) and the discount I purchased the property at.
As much as I love condos and feel much more comfortable investing in them, perhaps I should be looking at a more lucrative form of rental property going into the future…
Q at $1 Million to My Name: You need to hold my hand while I buy my first apartment building! 😉


text:
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Homer High School
March 29, 30: HHS production of the Broadway musical "The Sound of Plaid;" 7:30 p.m. March 29; 3 and 7:30 p.m. March 30.
Homer Middle School
March 29: Math Counts, state.
McNeil Canyon Elementary School
March 20: Drama club begins.
March 20, 25, 27: Learning lab.
March 24-28: Swim lessons, grades K-1.
March 27: Drama club.
March 27: Spotlight lunch recognizing students Brianna Miller, Luke Nelson, Lucas Story, Ireland Styvar, Jake Tappan, Cadence Campbell, Kayden Crosby, Lukyan Dax, Kenyon Jones, Josh Latham, Karma Wilcox, Kaleb Dawson, Kira Milne, Melanie Morris, Tyshawn Carson, McKenzy Johnson and Jake Jones. Parents are invited to join their child and principal for lunch, 11:25 a.m.
March 28: Sport Shirt Day.
Ninilchik School
March 20: Site council, 3:30 p.m.
Paul Banks Elementary School
March 21: All-school pajama day.
March 21: PTA movie night.
March 28: Kindergarten round-up.
West Homer Elementary School
March 20, 27: Fifth-grade band, 2:40 p.m.
March 21: Volleyball, grades 5-6, 3:30 p.m.
March 24: Sixth-grade band, 11:35 a.m.
March 25: Fifth-grade band, 12:35 p.m.
March 26: Sixth-grade band, 12:35 p.m.
March 28: Twin Day.
Scholarships, contests, etc.
American Legion Scholarships: Richard D. Johnson, $1,000, due March 30; American Legion Auxiliary Unit 16, $500, due April 1; Merrilyn Stock Scholarship for continuing students (not high school students), $500-$1,000, due March 30; applications at high school counselor offices, Connections or American Legion Post 16 in Homer. Contact Darlene at 235-6789 or the post at 235-8864.
Boys State and Girls State: Must be a high school junior to apply. The program educates young men and women in the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship. Participants experience setting up a city and state government using the existing constitution and laws as guidelines, and write-debate "bills" containing changes you would like to see happen. Girls State will be June 1-7 at the Salvation Army Kings Lake Center in Wasilla. Interviews will be 2:30-3:30 p.m. April 10 at the Homer High School. If you do not attend Homer High, call for interview place and times. Boys State will be held June 7-14 at the Wilderness Lodge at St. Therese's Camp near Wasilla. Interviews for Boys State also will be held mid–April also. The program is sponsored by the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary. Applications may be picked up at Homer High School, Connections, English Bay, Nikolaevsk, Razdolna, Kachemak Selo and at the American Legion Post in Homer. For more information, visit alaskagirlsstate.org and alaskaboysstate.org or contact Bill or Darlene at 235-6789 or Post 16 at 235-8864.
Homer Electric Association is offering scholarships for the annual Youth Rally in Idaho are offered. High school sophomores and juniors are eligible for an all-expense-paid week in Caldwell, Idaho, from July 7-12, to enhance leadership. Applications are available at homerelectric.com. Deadline is April 4.
Homer Electric Association also sponsors an electric safety poster contest for third- and fourth-graders Prizes include $50-$100 VISA gift cards Deadline is April 4. For rules, visit 222.homerelectric.com.
Homer Marine Trades has applications for its $1,000 scholarship for graduating seniors or prior year graduates wanting advanced vocational education and training. The applications have been sent to school counselors and are available online at homermarinetrades.com.
Kenai Borough Employees Association scholarship committee is seeking applicants for three scholarships, each $500. Applications and instructions are available from any Kenai Peninsula Borough high shcool counselor or at borough.kenai.ak.us. The deadline is March 28. Applications can be mailed or dropped off at the kenai Penisula Borough, KBEA Scholarship Committee, 144 N. Binkley St., Soldotna, AK 99669.


text:
Let's face it, most music teachers spend hundreds (I've even heard thousands!) of their own money each year on resources for their classroom. It is one of the reasons that I am so glad that I found TeachersPayTeachers. I love the affordable resources that were created by teachers like me.
I've compiled a list of some great freebies that I think you'll love in this post. I hope that you'll try them out and follow all of these amazing music educators there. You can follow them (and me!) by clicking the green star by the name of the store. When you do this you'll get occasional notifications via email when they add new resources.
History and Composers
The Big Apple Dance Craze of 1937 by Sally Utley of Sally's Sea of SongsHow did I live this long without knowing about the Big Apple? Your students will be just as delighted as I was! This PowerPoint file is linked to several amazing videos. You'll want to add this to your yearly lesson plans.
John Williams Foldables by Kim Maloney from Music Teacher Resources
I am such a fan of John Williams and so are students that are introduced to the magic of his music. This set of foldables is perfect for the classroom or private studio. With ample opportunities for research and writing, this freebie is great for cross curriculuar integration.
Favorite Folk Songs: Looby Loo (Teacher Toolkit) by David Row of Make Moments Matter
I love, love LOVE David's amazing collections of folk songs. They make great bulletin boards and great tools for introducing songs. After using several of them, my students were more than disappointed to learn that our next song did not have the "cool slide show" to go with it. LOVE that!
Composer of the Month Johannes Brahms by The Bulletin Board Lady-Tracy King
I love celebrating composers of the month with my students and I created this series of composer bulletin boards and writing activities to use. Since I used the kits for Kindergarten through 6th (and for a few years 7th and 8th grades), they were designed to used accordingly. Grab this one (normally $5.99) for free!
My Book of Instruments by The Bulletin Board Lady-Tracy KingI'm always looking for ways for my youngest learners to write in music class that don't take up our entire time together. This book is my solution! We can do a page or two on an instrument that we are studying and continue to add to it as the year goes along OR I can leave it for a sub and they leave with a beautiful book to take home.
Rainbow Ukulele Starter Kit by Shelly Tomich of Pitch Publications
So, a few years ago in the midst of 20 snow days at home, I ordered a ukulele. I did not do well. LOL. I think that Shelly may have convinced me to try again! This is a great way to get started with the uke. You'll probably want to check out her post about choosing a great instrument too.
Recorder Black Belt System by Linda Seamons of Floating Down the River
Learn about Linda's recorder program and get tons of music to use with your learners. She starts with C and A instead of the traditional BAG. This freebie is filled with many great ideas for teaching and organizing. I wish I had this twenty years ago!
Brass Instrument Races (Aural Identification) by Chrissy Hutzel from Hutzel House of Music
This is such a great idea! In this freebie your students are asked to listen to an unidentified instruments (sound files included) and then race to identify it by retrieving a card. FUN!
Orff Instrument Labels by Stacie Bates of The Bates Clef (I love that name!)
Do you love the look of camo? You are going to love this set of Orff instrument labels! Make sure your instruments are decked out with these free printables.
Melody and Singing Activities
Fishin' for Melody by Linda McPhersonI am a BIG fan of centers in music class and this free download sets you up for four (Yes. I said FOUR!) recorder stations. It's easy. It takes little explanation. It's brilliant. Did you hear me? Go get it!
Kindergarten Music Lesson Plan Day 1 by Lindsay Jervis
I've said this for years and years "I knew how to teach music after graduating from college, but no one taught me what to do on that first day!" This detailed and engaging lesson plan does just that. Songs and activities and a great sequence are laid out in detail. Try this freebie and you may want the entire year!
The Adventures of Sophie Solfege - Sophie Climbs the Ladder by Angie Kelton of i heart teaching music.
This is a clever (and quite adorable) way to introduce lines/spaces and solfege to your students. You are probably already acquainted with Sophie Solfege, but if not this is the place to start.
First Grade Music Lesson by Aileen Miracle
This is a fun and engaging lesson for first grade! It is actually a sampler from a much larger work, but this is a stand alone lesson plan with great ideas, a detailed plan and several songs and activities.
Fall Vocal Explorations by Anne Newman
Warm up with these fall vocal explorations. These slides are laid out in beautiful autumnal colors and would be a great way to start class.
Copy, Transfer, Transpose (sol mi set) by Debbie O'Shea from Crescendo Music
Such a difficult skill, such a great freebie to help! With these worksheets, students transpose sol and mi to different places on the staff! Although this is probably intended for younger students who have just learned sol and mi, I can see it being handy for older students too!
"Come Along and Sing with Me" (2 part round) by Sandra Hendrickson of Sing Play Creatively
This catchy little round is laid out perfectly for your Kodaly classroom. You get the sheet music, solfege and pitch names version as well as a file to introduce it. WOW!
Peter and the Wolf Vocal Explorations by The Bulletin Board Lady-Tracy King
This is a great set to use for vocal explorations at workstations (or as part of your Peter and the Wolf workstations). It's a great way to warm up a group before singing and it is a fun (and silly!) way to review the characters in PatW and the instrument that plays their theme.
Rhythm Whack-a-Mole by Cara Coffey of MiscellaneousMeOkay I must admit that I haven't played this game with students yet, but I have about 20 different props for whacking! LOL. Cara has put together a simple, but ridiculously fun game that you'll want to download today.
Engine Engine Number Nine by Anne Meleski of Anacrusic
Working with ta and titi? You'll enjoy this bright and colorful download of "Engine Engine Number 9" that works on quarter notes and barred eighth notes. Working from lyrics, then steady beat and then rhythm, this is a great plan.
16th Note Worksheets by Jamie Parker
I'm always looking for print and go worksheets to use with my students. This sampler of 16th note worksheets is great! You'll get worksheets for "Dinah", "Old Brass Wagon" and one that works great for ear training.
Rap It, Clap It, Music Match It by The Bulletin Board Lady-Tracy King
This has to be one of my primary students' favorite activities! Students say (or rap) the pictures, clap them and them match them with rhythms. The worksheets make assessment a breeze! This is a freebie, but be sure to check out the entire line of Rap It, Clap Its in my store.
Rhythm Clap Backs by Jennifer Foxx of Music Educator Resources
What's a rhythm clap back? Well, you know. It's a rhythm that you clap back! This freebie has 5 different rhythms represented iconically and a worksheet. Such a smart idea!
Measure Tiles by Nancy Otto of The Rested Musician
This game is essentially music dominoes and it's FREE! A great resource for music workstations or to use during a reward day, you'll want to print and laminate this one and use it for many years.
Don't have time to grab all of these fabulous freebies now? PIN this list and grab them later!


text:
Peru…Photos Part 2
Peru…Photos Part 1
Peru…Breathless at Machu Picchu
My first night in Peru was spent in a small town called Puno. It was just a brief stint before boarding my final bus to Cusco. Cusco is a charming little town and is the starting point for most tourist…
Bolivia Photos Part 2
Bolivia Photos Part 1
Bolivia…Quick Trip…but there's always something:)
The trip to Bolivia began, and as usual, was very interesting…well, maybe that's not quite the right word. I land in La Paz and am told to wait patiently….several times. Myself, another young American woman and some Asians are made…


text:
150W IP65 rated Tungsten White COB LED PAR
StudioCob PlusTU is a powerful, incredibly versatile and IP65 rated LED PAR. Fusing the old and the new, it pairs a COB LED source with a traditional parabolic reflector to deliver a proper PAR replacement with a homogenised output, single shadow and flexible lens options.
If you registered already to PROLIGHTS or Music & Lights, just login using your account credential
Did you forget your password? Please enter the e-mail address you provided when filling the registration form: we will send your login details to such e-mail address.


text:
Filinvest City brings Christmas to life in the Metro South
Filinvest City in Alabang has truly earned its place as the premier lifestyle destination in the Metro South, an ideal live-work-play community that has everything a city dweller needs. And this early, the holiday season has arrived at Filinvest City, as it transforms itself into a more dazzling spectacle with a unique Christmas wonderland, which opens to the public on November 16. On the sixth year of its holiday tradition, Filinvest City raises the bar even higher with the launch of "Christmas Comes Alive," vivifying a section of Spectrum Linear Park with sparkling holiday decors and life-sized outdoor installations. A kick-off performance by no-less than thespian performer Gian Magdangal ushered by Legit Status who performed a flash mob and ballerinas who lit up each display section definitely add cheer to the festivities.
Filinvest City's "Christmas Comes Alive" excitedly draws crowds from different corners of the metro. True to its promise of having something for everyone, and sure to entice revelers this most wonderful time of the year, Filinvest City has slated exciting activities, events and entertainment for everybody's delight.
"Year in and year out, we set out to make Filinvest City as the most inviting holiday destination here in the Metro South," says Don Ubaldo, head of townships. "This year, we are bringing it up a notch with Christmas Comes Alive. There are activities for everybody's enjoyment and we have taken the festivities across Filinvest City."
The Spectrum Linear Park, as the stunning backdrop where the main events will be held, will have four themed sections such as "The Christmas Tree," "Once Upon A Christmas Dream," "Aboard the Christmas Train," and "Up, Up, and Away"—elements that are sure to keep visitors in awe.
South-grown talents such as school chorale groups and community dance troupes will also fill the air with Christmas tunes and grooves every Friday starting November 16.
Come November 17, the Spectrum Linear Park will be filled with good music as Filinvest City has lined up concerts by today's hottest bands and artists every Saturday at 8 p.m. On November 17 – independent electronic pop artist BP Valenzuela; November 24 – solo folk project I Belong to the Zoo; December 1 – indie rock band December Avenue; December 8 – indie alternative rock band Autotelic; December 15 – singer and rapper Quest; December 22 – the influential Rivermaya; December 29 – indie folk band The Ransom Collective. Rising electronic producer Wicked Adobo will also grace the stage and start each show at 7 p.m. Each concert will be capped off by a grand fireworks display, a real visual treat for city dwellers.
Also a big part of this year's "Christmas Comes Alive" is the Building Décor Contest where multinational and local companies outdo themselves as they light up their corporate headquarters, making Filinvest City a sight to behold. This feast for the eyes is even more accentuated by the sparkling Christmas lights and decors that adorn the streets in the Metro South's garden city.
While everything you need is already here – a Christmas wonderland and free concerts – a weekend night market is a welcome addition to the community. Banchetto Filinvest City will be open every Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. starting November 16 and will feature a delicious and diverse assortment of food options for those who live, work and play in the city and neighboring provinces.
Indeed, with "Christmas Comes Alive," Filinvest City cements its position as the south's ultimate holiday destination for families and friends. So, come one, come all and enjoy the holidays at Filinvest City!
For more information on Filinvest City's activities and events this holiday season, visit www.facebook.com/FilinvestCityOFFICIAL.


text:
Summary: Researchers identify distinct signatures in the gut microbiome that were associated with either healthy and unhealthy aging trajectories.
Source: Institute of Systems Biology
The gut microbiome is an integral component of the body, but its importance in the human aging process is unclear. ISB researchers and their collaborators have identified distinct signatures in the gut microbiome that are associated with either healthy or unhealthy aging trajectories, which in turn predict survival in a population of older individuals.
The work is set to be published in the journal Nature Metabolism.
The research team analyzed gut microbiome, phenotypic and clinical data from over 9,000 people—between the ages of 18 and 101 years old—across three independent cohorts. The team focused, in particular, on longitudinal data from a cohort of over 900 community-dwelling older individuals (78-98 years old), allowing them to track health and survival outcomes.
The data showed that gut microbiomes became increasingly unique (i.e., increasingly divergent from others) as individuals aged, starting in mid-to-late adulthood, which corresponded with a steady decline in the abundance of core bacterial genera (e.g., Bacteroides) that tend to be shared across humans.
Strikingly, while microbiomes became increasingly unique to each individual in healthy aging, the metabolic functions the microbiomes were carrying out shared common traits. This gut uniqueness signature was highly correlated with several microbially-derived metabolites in blood plasma, including one—tryptophan-derived indole—that has previously been shown to extend lifespan in mice. Blood levels of another metabolite—phenylacetylglutamine—showed the strongest association with uniqueness, and prior work has shown that this metabolite is indeed highly elevated in the blood of centenarians.
"This uniqueness signature can predict patient survival in the latest decades of life," said ISB research scientist Dr. Tomasz Wilmanski, who led the study. Healthy individuals around 80 years of age showed continued microbial drift toward a unique compositional state, but this drift was absent in less healthy individuals.
"Interestingly, this uniqueness pattern appears to start in mid-life—40-50 years old—and is associated with a clear blood metabolomic signature, suggesting that these microbiome changes may not simply be diagnostic of healthy aging, but that they may also contribute directly to health as we age," Wilmanski said. For example, indoles are known to reduce inflammation in the gut, and chronic inflammation is thought to be a major driver in the progression of aging-related morbidities.
"Prior results in microbiome-aging research appear inconsistent, with some reports showing a decline in core gut genera in centenarian populations, while others show relative stability of the microbiome up until the onset of aging-related declines in health," said microbiome specialist Dr. Sean Gibbons, co-corresponding author of the paper.
"Our work, which is the first to incorporate a detailed analysis of health and survival, may resolve these inconsistencies. Specifically, we show two distinct aging trajectories: (1) a decline in core microbes and an accompanying rise in uniqueness in healthier individuals, consistent with prior results in community-dwelling centenarians, and (2) the maintenance of core microbes in less healthy individuals."
This analysis highlights the fact that the adult gut microbiome continues to develop with advanced age in healthy individuals, but not in unhealthy ones, and that microbiome compositions associated with health in early-to-mid adulthood may not be compatible with health in late adulthood.
"This is exciting work that we think will have major clinical implications for monitoring and modifying gut microbiome health throughout a person's life," said ISB Professor Dr. Nathan Price, co-corresponding author of the paper.
About this microbiome, aging and longevity research news
Source: Institute of Systems Biology
Contact: Press Office – Institute of Systems Biology
Image: The image is in the public domain
Original Research: The study will appear in Nature Metabolism


text:
Fraud Detection and Prevention for Online Sellers
The next E-Commerce Ireland Meet-up event takes place on Thursday July 17th at National College of Ireland.
We will be focusing on the whole area of Fraud Detection and Prevention for Online Sellers and have lined up two great speakers for this event from two of the most reputable businesses in this field in Ireland.
As usual there is no charge to attend this event but please register for the event here
Mícheál Ó Gruagáin the E-Commerce Product Manager with AIB Merchant Services and Jonathan Bowers is a Fraud and Data Specialist with Trustev, (@Trustev) one of Ireland's hottest startup companies.
This will be followed by networking amongst the group as we tease out some of the issues group members are having and share information on solving these issues through the wide areas of expertise in different areas amongst group members.
Fraud Detection and Pretection Event Time Schedule
6pm – 6.15pm: Arrive and network
6.15 – 6.45pm: Mícheál Ó Gruagáin, AIBMS (Including Q & A)
6.45 – 7.15pm: Jonathan Bowers, Trustev (Including Q & A)
7.15pm Onwards – General Networking and Problem Solving for group members.
Again this event will take place in on first floor (not ground floor) of NCI in Lecture Theatre One and there is no charge to come along.


text:
In 2016, a mass bleaching event caused unprecedented destruction to the Great Barrier Reef and other coral reefs around the world.
Now, a new study in Nature has concluded that securing a future for coral reefs "ultimately requires urgent and rapid action to reduce global warming."
It finds that local measures, such as protecting reefs and water quality, ultimately yield little protection against bleaching caused by higher water temperatures.
The researchers documented the extent of the damage the reef off the coast of Australia sustained during the 2016 bleaching event, and found that only 8.9 percent of more than 1,000 reefs escaped with no bleaching along a stretch more than 2,300 kilometers long.
That's far worse that the two previous major Great Barrier Reef bleaching events, in 1998 and 2002. In both cases more than 40 percent of the reef escaped bleaching.
James Cook University's Mia Hoogenboom, one of the co-authors of the paper, told Morning Edition that when she went diving to document the reef's condition, it was a shock to see the extent of the damage.
"It's confronting to go from a reef which is colorful, which is swarming with life, to a reef that's covered in dead corals and corals that are covered in a slimy green algae," she said. "So it doesn't feel like the same reef and it doesn't engender that same sense of wonder at the biodiversity that's present in those areas."
The three major bleaching events occurred in different but overlapping areas, which allowed the researchers to test a hypothesis that previous exposure to bleaching may make coral more resilient to the effect of high water temperatures.
Unfortunately, the researchers found that "bleaching in previous years didn't confer any resistance to bleaching in the most recent bleaching event." Hoogenboom said "the bleaching was just as severe on reefs that had previously been bleached than on reefs that hadn't bleached before in that event last year."
The Two-Way has explained how coral bleaching occurs as water temperatures rise:
" Coral bleaching occurs when the living organisms that make up coral reefs expel the colorful, photosynthetic algae that normally live inside their bodies, and provide them with food. Those algae give coral reefs their color and disappear when the reefs are exposed to stressful climatic conditions, such as temperatures even a few degrees higher than normal."
Hoogenboom says the researchers found that other factors can help mitigate the severity of the bleaching. For example, good water flow can reduce the severity of bleaching at a site.
But ultimately, she says, "temperature is really the main driver of these mass coral bleaching events," prompting the team's push for global action against climate change.
In recent weeks, her team received more bad news – they've found that a bleaching event is occurring on the Great Barrier Reef for the second successive year.
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


text:
A new report that studied kids throughout childhood found that those who are obese at five years old are more likely to be heavy later in life.
While other studies have hinted at that trend, those have generally involved what's known as prevalence of the condition — or the proportion of a population, at a given time, that is considered obese. Such information doesn't suggest the risk of developing obesity, which is revealed by studying a population over specific periods of time. So in the latest study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, scientists tracked a group of 7738 children, some of whom were overweight or obese, and some who were normal weight, from 1998 (when they were in kindergarten) to 2007 (when they were in ninth grade). They found that the 14.9% of five-year-olds who were overweight at kindergarten were four times more likely to become obese nearly a decade later than five-year-olds of a healthy weight.
MORE: Severely Obese Kids Have Heart Disease Risk Factors as Early as Age 2
During the study, the researchers measured the children's height and weight seven times, which allowed them to record the incidence of obesity almost yearly. Overall, since most of the children (6807) were normal weight at the start of the study, the children's risk of becoming obese decreased by 5.4% during the kindergarten year and by 1.7% between the fifth and eighth grades. But the five-year-olds who were overweight, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) within the 85th percentile for their age group were significantly more likely to become obese, which the scientists defined as a BMI within the 95th percentile of their age group as time went on. Among kids who became obese between the ages of five and 14, about half had been overweight in the past and 75% were in a high BMI percentile at the start of the study.
MORE: Predicting Obesity At Birth
Obesity is connected to a high risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke among adults, and young children who spend more years overweight or obese may be putting themselves at even higher risk of these diseases, the scientists say.
The study highlights the dynamic between early weight gain and obesity, and the researchers say future work should focus on understanding what contributes to a child becoming overweight so early in life. The results suggest that education about weight gain and obesity prevention efforts may need to start earlier with families of young children, before youngsters become locked in a condition that's difficult to change.


text:
Burnout: An Ever-Present Threat
Burnout is an often-used reason for an owner selling his or her business. Potential buyers may have trouble accepting this as a valid reason for sale. However, burnout is a valid reason for selling one's business.
A business owner can experience burnout even with a business that's successful and growing. Many independent business owners feel they've worked hard, made their money, and now is a good time to cash out and move on, before burnout endangers the health of the business.
The following warning signs should remind a business owner that cashing out beats burning out:
You are overwhelmed on a daily basis.
When a business owner is a one-man show, even small tasks and minor decisions can seem bigger than Mount Everest. These owners have been shouldering the burden alone for too long, and the isolation has taken its toll.
You sense a failure of imagination.
Burnt-out owners are so close to their work that they lose perspective. Prioritizing becomes a major daily challenge, and problem solving sometimes goes no further than the application of business Band-Aids that cost money in the long run rather than increasing profits.
The joy is gone.
Although owning a business is hard work, it should also provide a good measure of enjoyment. When the work day begins with dread or boredom, the owner probably needs a change of scenery and a new challenge.
You are simply exhausted.
Being "just too tired" is a complaint heard just as often from the owner of the successful business as from the business that's struggling to survive. In fact, a business that is growing will create increased demands of time and energy.
No matter what the status of the operation, the sheer work of keeping a business going day after day, year after year, is enough to encourage a business owner to make a change. This kind of schedule is not for everyone; in fact, statistics show that it's hardly for anyone on a long-term basis.
Read More