text:
2010 Summer Project Week Microscopy extensions for ITK
Key Investigators
- Gaetan lehmann: INRA
- Alex Gouaillard: CoSMo Software / A*STAR
- NAMIC: (luis?)
Fluorescence microscopy is a very common image acquisition modality, used in many fields including medical imaging and biological research. Depending on the techniques used, the images produced can be in 2D or 3D, time lapse, and contain several channels. ITK provides a lot of useful tools to analyze the images produce in fluorescence microscopy. The N-dimensionality of ITK is especially useful when dealing with 3D data sets. However, it contains very few methods to correct the aberrations introduced in the image during the acquisition. We propose to implement some tools dedicated to the restoration of images in fluorescence microscopy. Because no algorithm exists to perfectly correct those aberrations, we propose to implement several algorithms for each kind of problem, including the most common algorithms, which are well know and widely used, and some of the state of the art algorithms.
Bold and Tag'ed with a #, working prototype available.
Bold and tag'ed with a @, prototype expected on or before august
preliminary work
- fft convolution # ( Insight Journal publication )
Most of the deconvolution methods are based on multiple deconvolution or on FFT transforms. This preliminary work will be very useful to implement the deconvolution filters.
- noise simulation # ( Insight Journal publication )
Being able to simulate the noise behavior is very important because it let the user compare the result of a restoration method with the known unblurred object.
- non-blind deconvolution
This is the most common deconvolution type. With all those methods, it is supposed that the point spread function is known. Most of those methods, for practical reasons, also assume that the point spread function (PSF) is spatially invariant in the image. Some of the methods are focused on the computation efficiency, at the cost of the restoration quality - often the linear algorithms -, and some on the restoration quality at the cost of the computation complexity - usually the iterative algorithms. The fluorescence noise follows a Poisson distribution, but is often considered as gaussian noise to simplify the computations. This assumption is generally valid when the SNR is high - most of the time for wide field microscopy. Because of the noise amplification produce by the deconvolution process, most of the methods are regularized. In fact, the only unregularized methods are iterative, and are effectively regularized by stopping the iteration process before the convergence.
- Space invariant PSF - Linear algorithms
All the proposed linear algorithms are made with the assumption of an additive gaussian noise. Other algorithms combined with wavelet transformed produce better results.
- Regularized Linear Least Squares (truncated SVD) #
- Maximum A Posteriori Linear Least Squares #
- Wiener #
- Tikhonov Miller #
- Space Invariant - Iterative Algorithms
- van Cittert #: No noise assumption. A single convolution is required by iteration.
- Jansson-van Cittert #: This is a constrained version of the van Cittert algorithm. The pixel values are constrained in a range of values.
- Landweber #: The noise is assumed to follow a gaussian additive model. The algorithm requires two convolutions by iteration and the step size is fixed, which makes it converge slowly. It can be optionally constrained to avoid negative values as expected in fluorescence microscopy.
- Richardson-Lucy #: The noise is assumed to follow a poisson model. The algorithm requires two convolutions by iteration and the step size is fixed, which makes it converge slowly. The non negativity property is ensured without additional constraint. This algorithm is also known as Maximum Likelihood Maximization Expectation.
- Damped Richardson-Lucy # This is a simple regularized version of the Richardson-Lucy algorithm. It is widely used in astronomy.
- Tikhonov-Miller regularized Richardson-Lucy #: This is a regularized version of the Richardson-Lucy algorithm using the Tikhonov-Miller usual penalization. Ref: Dey et al. 3D Microscopy Deconvolution using Richardson-Lucy Algorithm with Total Variation Regularization. hal.archives-ouvertes.fr (2004)
- Total variation regularized Richardson-Lucy: This is a regularized version of the Richardson-Lucy algorithm which also minimize the Total Variation of the image to avoid the noise amplification.
- Maximum Entropy regularized Richardson-Lucy #: This is a regularized version of the Richardson lucy algoritm by imposing a maximum entropy constraint on the unblurred image.
- Good regularized Richardson-Lucy: This is a regularize Richardson-Lucy algorithm which also minimize the Good's roughness.
- Iterative Constrained Tikhonov-Miller @: The noise is assumed to follow an additive gaussian model, and the process is regularized using the usual penalization. The non negativity is enforced at each iteration and the convergence is accelerated with a conjugate gradient acceleration.
- Verveer's Maximum A Posteriori (MAPGG, MAPGE, MAPPG, MAPPE, MAPGR and MAPPR): The noise is assumed to follow either a gaussian or a poisson model. Three different a priori can be imposed on the unblurred image: a gaussian model, a maximum entroy or a Good's roughness. The process is accelerated with a Newton acceleration.
- Markov Random Field MAP: The noise is assumed to follow a poisson model. The unblurred image is assumed to be a realization of a Markov random field. The problem is solved with a split gradient technique which is known to converge slowly, but the result quality is enhance compared to other state of the art algorithms.
- Generalized Vector-Valued Total Variation: The noise is assumed to follow an additive gaussian model. The process also minimize the total variation and is accelerated. The code is available for matlab with a BSD license.
- space variant psf
- Depth-variant ML-EM
The PSF is required for all the non-blind deconvolution methods. It is possible to get it either by measuring it with beads, are with a model. One way are the other both have their advantages and inconvenience and should be available for the final user.
- PSF simulation
- measurement / Evaluation of psf
- Regularization Parameters Estimation
- Generalized Cross Validation (GCV): A good estimation can be computed for the Tikhonov-Miller regularization with the generalized cross validation method.
On the implementation side, several goal should be reached.
- observability #: The iterative deconvolution algorithm are usually quite long to run - several minutes or tens of minutes on todays computers. As a consequence, it is important that the process can be observed by the user so that he can validate visually the intermediate results. The various measurements made should also be available during the process. If the result is not the expected one, or if the expected result is reach sooner than expected, the user should be able to interrupt the process cleanly.
- continue a completed process to increase the number of iterations #: The iterative filter should provide a mechanism to restart a completed deconvolution in order to increase the number of iterations.
- preconditionning #: Preconditionning is a usual technique where the blurred image and/or the PSF are transformed at the beginning at the deconvolution in order to improve the deconvolution quality or to decrease the number of iterations needed to reach the convergence. The usual precoditionning methods include the gaussian blurring, the Wiener fieltering and various denoising methods (mostly wavelet based).
- multithreaded calculators: ITK does not currently provide any base class to easily implement multithreading in the calculators. We propose to implement such a base class and to use it in the calculators required in the other tasks.
- FFTW wisdom integration #: FFTW provides a mechanism to store the optimized plans on the disk. We propose to use this capability in ITK FFTW filters and to make it's usage transparent for the user.
Approach, Plan
Delivery Mechanism
This work will be (eventually) delivered to the NA-MIC Kit as an
- ITK Module
[01] Ref: Preza et al. Regularized method for reconstruction of three-dimensional microscopic objects from optical sections. Journal of the Optical Society of America (1992) vol. 9 (2) pp. 219-228
[02] Ref: Preza et al. Image reconstruction for 3-D light microscopy with a regularized linear method incorporating a smoothness prior. Presented at the IS&T/SPIE Symposium on Electronic Imaging (1993) vol. 1905 (129-139)
[03] Ref: Richardson. Bayesian-Based Iterative Method of Image Restoration. Journal of the Optical Society of America (1917-1983) (1972) vol. 62 pp. 55-+
[04] Ref: Lucy. An iterative technique for the rectification of observed distributions. Astronomical Journal (1974) vol. 79 pp. 745-+
[05] Ref: White. Image Restoration Using the Damped Richardson-Lucy Iteration. Proceedings (1994) vol. 61 pp. 292-+
[06] Ref: Dey et al. 3D Microscopy Deconvolution using Richardson-Lucy Algorithm with Total Variation Regularization. hal.archives-ouvertes.fr (2004)
[07] Ref: Monvel et al. Image Restoration for Confocal Microscopy: Improving the Limits of Deconvolution, with Application to the Visualization of the Mammalian Hearing Organ. Biophysical Journal (2001)
[08] Ref: Verveer et Jovin. Acceleration of the ICTM image restoration algorithm. Journal of Microscopy (1997) (188) pp. 191–195
[09] Ref: Verveer. Computational and Optical Methods for Improving Resolution and Signal Quality in Fluorescence Microscopy. adsabs.harvard.edu (1998)
[10] Ref: Vicidomini et al. Application of the split-gradient method to 3D image deconvolution in fluorescence microscopy. Journal of Microscopy (2009) vol. 234 (1) pp. 47-61
[11] Ref: P. Rodriguez, B. Wohlberg, "Efficient Minimization Method for a Generalized Total Variation Functional" IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, 2009, 18:2(322-332)
[12] Ref: Preza et Conchello. Depth-variant maximum-likelihood restoration for three-dimensional fluorescence microscopy. Journal of the Optical Society of America A (2004) vol. 21 (9) pp. 1593-1601
[13] Ref: Agard. Optical sectioning microscopy: cellular architecture in three dimensions. Annual review of Biophysics and Bioengineering (1984) vol. 13 pp. 191-219
[14] Ref: Gibson et Lanni. Experimental test of an analytical model of aberration in an oil-immersion objective lens used in three-dimensional light microscopy. J. Opt. Soc. Am. A (1992) vol. 9 (1) pp. 154-166
[15] Ref: Haeberle. Focusing of light through a stratified medium: a practical approach for computing microscope point spread functions. Part I: Conventional microscopy. Optics Communications (2003) vol. 216 (1-3) pp. 55 - 63
[16] Ref: Haeberle. Focusing of light through a stratified medium: a practical approach for computing microscope point spread functions: Part II: confocal and multiphoton microscopy. Optics Communications (2004) vol. 235 (1-3) pp. 1 - 10
[17] Ref: Dey et al. 3D Microscopy Deconvolution using Richardson-Lucy Algorithm with Total Variation Regularization. hal.archives-ouvertes.fr (2004)
[18] Ref: Van Kempen et al. A quantitative comparison of image restoration methods for confocal microscopy. Journal of Microscopy (1997) vol. 185 (3) pp. 354-365


text:
Exonumia, Paper Money, Silver Bullion, Draped Bust Heraldic Eagle Half Dollar, American Eagles, Asia, Appraisals, Buy & Sell, 3 Cents, Gold, Appraisals and Mints in Marietta
Gold and Coin Exchange
Business Contact: Robert Oberth
in World Coins, U.S. Coins, Silver Coins, Silver Bullion, Platinum Bullion, Paper Money, Gold Coins, Gold Bullion, Gold, Bullion, Asia, Appraisals, Buy & Sell, Appraisals, American Eagles
Our family began trading in rarities in 1853. Robert Oberth is a GIA Certified Diamond Graduate and a Lifetime Member of the ANA. We are a family owned company specializing in buying and selling rare coins and currency. Located in Marietta, Georgia.
1185 N Cobb Parkway NW
Marietta, Georgia 30062
United States

subset: commoncrawl


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Hello, how can I help you?
Customer question
"how many christian names do you need"
FAQs related to this customer question
Changes to names on reservations of seats and/or tickets are NOT allowed. For this reason we ask you to pay special attention when writing the names and family name(s) of the passengers, which mu...
The charge to your card will be made automatically, once the Online Booking and Purchase process has taken place.


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Tuesday, September 29, 2020
The case of Nahalin, an unwilling example of inadequate water policy in the West Bank
Juicebox Gallery
Jan Walraven
- February 22, 2014
Main News
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Photography by Jan Walraven.
Four Israeli settlements and the encroaching separation wall surround Nahalin, a Palestinian village of about 7,000 people located southwest of Bethlehem. Because the settlements are destined to be absorbed into the wider area of Jerusalem, Israeli authorities plan to build the wall east of the Green Line and east of the settlements, annexing them and the surrounding land completely.
"There will also be a checkpoint at the main road, that will be open only a few times a day and close at 5 pm," said Majed Ghayada, a member of the Nahalin Local Council.
In the long run, when the planned construction of the separation wall is finished, Nahalin and five other neighbouring Palestinian villages will also be placed inside Israeli territory, cutting them off from the rest of the West Bank, nearby Bethlehem and its services.
But apart from the pending enclosure, the villagers have another problem on their minds. "Every Friday and Saturday farm land owned by farmers from Nahalin is being flooded with untreated wastewater," Ghayada said in an interview with The Palestine Monitor. The sewage water is streaming down from the top of the hill west of the village, where the illegal Beitar Illit settlement is located. The raw wastewater, containing bacteria and other polluting substances, is contaminating the water spring and killing olive trees.
"The spring water used to be very healthy," explained Ghayada, "but now, when our sheep or donkeys drink from it, they die."
According to Ghayada, the discharges started in 1999 "in little amounts, but it worsened after the Second Intifadah." Now, sewage water is discharged onto the fields of Nahalin from five different pipes. "One is so big, you can park your car in there," Ghayada said. He believes that the discharges are a deliberate move from the settlers and the Israeli government. "They want the land to use it as a buffer area between our village and the settlements, and it is working, because nobody wants to use these lands anymore."
Insufficient measures
According to
by Americans for Peace Now, the illegal settlement of Beitar Illit, established in 1985, has a population of about 37,000 and occupies an area of 961 acres; Palestinians from neighbouring villages privately own 91 acres.
Located on the southwest slope of the settlement, the Israeli Housing Ministry built a facility designed to pump the sewage water from Beitar Illit to the Soreq water treatment facility, situated inside Israel, near Tel Aviv. Apparently, this facility isn't nearly sufficient enough to process all of the wastewater produced inside the settlement, so the surplus sewage water is dumped outside the settlement, onto the fields, streams and spring source of Nahalin.
When water and soil are contaminated, all crops are rendered useless and unsafe for consumption, which results in a financial and economic loss for the villagers, in addition to enormous environmental costs. The Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem (ARIJ)
the total loss in terms of grape, vegetable and olive produce at NIS 900,000.
The community of Nahalin now has to buy tanked water from Israeli water company Mekorot, costing the village 355,000 NIS a month according to ARIJ. This cost, together with the economic and financial losses of the contamination, creates an economic deficit that will be hard to overcome by the community of Nahalin.
Problem facing the entire West Bank
Unfortunately, Nahalin isn't a stand-alone case. In a
on wastewater treatment in the West Bank, B'Tselem quotes the results of a study conducted by the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority Environment Unit, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Civil Administration. They found that in 2007, 81 of 121 settlements in the West Bank were connected to wastewater treatment facilities. This implies that in 2007, 12 millions of cubic metres (mcm) of wastewater from settlements was treated, while 5.5 mcm flowed into West Bank streams and valleys untreated.
Another study, quoted in the B'Tselem report, conducted by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in 2001, found that in 2,721 samples from wells and water tanks, 22 percent had bacterial readings above the drinking-water standards of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The case of Nahalin and the quoted studies indicate that insufficient treatment of wastewater is a huge environmental and economic problem facing the entire West Bank. All sides acknowledge the long-term environmental effects of this neglect to be very worrisome. But free-flowing, raw wastewater from Israeli settlements isn't the only cause. In their
status report
on wastewater from 2011, the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) concluded that in the West Bank only 31% of the total population were connected to sewerage collection networks. Because many of these sewage networks are old and poorly preserved, frequent spills and leakages lead to the contamination of surrounding areas. 68% of the population collects their wastewater in cesspits and 1% directly dumps it into the environment.
Political deadlock
In article 40 of the Oslo II agreement signed in 1995, both sides agreed to coordinate the management of water and sewage resources and systems in the West Bank during a five-year interim period. To do this, the Joint Water Committee (JWC) was set up. In spite of the initial temporarily set-up, the JWC still exists today. It decides on every proposal on water policy in the West Bank, but by unanimity, which means that one side can veto all proposals from the other side. Moreover, the Civil Administration, the governing body of Israel's occupation in the West Bank, has to approve of every decision made by the JWC before they get implemented.
Until 1999 Israel was willing to approve of the construction of Palestinian water treatment facilities only if they would be connected to settlements. This was and still is unacceptable for the Palestinian Authority (PA), as it does not want to be seen as giving legitimacy to the permanent presence of the settlements by including them in solutions for wastewater treatment. Since 1995, only two new Palestinian water treatment facilities have been constructed. Many plans are waiting approval.
There are a few underlying causes to the failing water policy, concludes a 2009 World Bank
on water policy in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It calls the JWC a system with "asymmetries of power and capacity, that does not facilitate rational planning and development of Palestinian water resources and infrastructure." Asymmetric, because, for example, the Israeli Civil Administration has full control over about 60% (Area C) of the West Bank and "most water infrastructure has a footprint within Area C."
The World Bank also points to the bad investment environment, weak institutional capacity of the PA and implementation constraints as other main causes. In
to the World Bank report, the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that "Palestinians are not constructing sewage treatment plants, despite their obligation to do so. Rather, they allow the sewage flow unheeded into streams, polluting both the environment and groundwater."
Overall, the inadequate water policy in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is mostly due to the political deadlock of the past decade. While the impasse continues, Palestinian residents continue to be harmed both physically and economically, as sewage stemming from Israeli settlements leaks unabated into their crops and drinking water.
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One of the bakers asked about Persian Naan vs. Oasis Naan. The second is based on the first, and should she save dough for the first or bake it and save it to blog later. I will fully admit that we were not paying close enough attention while we were picking these recipes. (and the pecan sticky buns from last month) I looked in the book after these recipes had been chosen and found out that we opted for a variation. That's an oops on my part. So we're going to be more careful from here on out. We're going to try to make the base recipe first if the variation isn't a simple one (like making the French Strawberry cake from the genoise batter….) We will throw the brioche back in the mix, because the bread is an entirely different animal from the buns. Sorry for the confusion, and for the next little bit, let's try to get a base recipe or two out of the way so we can move on to some great renditions.
2 thoughts on "Addressing a question…"
So is the persian naan going to be put back into the mix too? Sorry, confused! :)


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The Public Policy Studies (PPS) major at Vanderbilt is interdisciplinary, bringing together tools of policy analysis such political science, economics, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, statistics, and public finance. The result is a degree that provides a broad understanding of the forces that shape public policy. Graduates are prepared to go on to careers in politics, law, business, community activism, journalism, etc.
The major is designed to achieve four main goals:
- To provide students with a set of analytical skills useful in policy analysis, including statistics, economics, and research methods.
- To give students a general background on the policy environment in the U.S. through courses in political science and other social sciences and through requiring a course on ethics.
- To encourage students to begin to develop expertise in one area of policy through requiring four courses in that area (the policy track).
- To provide students an opportunity to pull together all this knowledge in the production of a significant research paper on a topic related to their policy track.
The public policy studies major is rigorous; it requires 39 credit hours, including a number of quantitative and economics courses. But students who major in public policy have both the skill set and general background that employers and graduate schools want. Recent graduates have been accepted into top law schools (Georgetown) and graduate schools (the JFK School of Government at Harvard) and have also gone directly to work at exciting jobs in politics and finance (Goldman Sachs).


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Get T-shirts Like Fergie and Jessica!
Jack Ludlam/Splash News online; Cousart-Ramirez/ JFX
This summer we've spotted loads of stars like Jessica Alba, Fergie, Nicole Richie, and more sporting comfy, brightly-colored t-shirts. After a little digging, we found out these tees are from a cool new company called LnA that launched this past spring. The collection, which ranges from $55 to $70, includes everything from sexy deep V-necks to muscle tanks in bright colors like violet, canary yellow, and cherry red. The lure of the tops is their super soft cotton and flattering fit. We're definitely looking forward to wearing the company's long-sleeved tees this fall. Get Jessica Alba's basic crew neck, $60 at revolveclothing.com or Fergie's V-neck, $65 at intermixonline.com.


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Wrong caption on fire story
25 comments
You ever notice that Firemen got it easy? Sure, they have to work when there is a fire, but how often is that? Most of the time they seem to be at the grocery store. And Teachers? Forget about it! They just hang out all day with our kids and GET PAID FOR IT!!! Not fair...
Hey, Angry at unfairness-do their jobs just one day & I think you'll change your point of view.
To Angry at unfairness. If you think these 2 professions have it made, why don't you get a job working for either one of them then?
Some bunnies like cops, but I think Firemen rule!!!!
Well, Hose Clamp, you brought the subject up...... you just had to do it..... bad move!
Cops spend most of their working hours looking for badge bunnies inbetween answering calls. It's a much easier job than being a fireman or teacher.
And in the For What It's Worth departmen, none of the 3 professions are in the Top 10 of most dangerous jobs.
"Angry", you're also ignorant. Most of the firemen are volunteers who get paid nothing. My husband is one of them. He worked those wildfires for two days, losing his own work time. I rarely post comments, but yours really ticked me off.
Hey all, I think Angry was being sarcastic, after the stupid and dishonest big move by the Governor of Wisconsin. Just like the dweeb that got elected in Virginia. Let's blame the state employees for the massive tax breaks handed out. Yeah.
I'm forever amazed by the magical ability of Koch-owned Republicans like the Governor of Wisconsin (and our own "dweeb") to convince voters to cast their ballots against their own interests. In a few more years the glorious middle-class of America will have disappeared completely, leaving our country asymmetrically divided between obscenely rich and the penniless poor.
Eat the rich...
I think Angry left of the snark tags...or is a troll...or heck, both.
@Scott: Huh?
Wow-- if the comments are any indication there is a serious sarcasm gap effecting the residents of the Charlottesville area. This lack of ability to process sarcasm could lead to more serious issues such as complete absence of a sense of humor. As a Doktor in the Forbidden Sciences and a licensed Minister in the SubGenius Foundation I suggest that those who are unable to detect sarcasm or are already lacking in a sense of humor immediately research the SubGenius Foundation and seek assistance.
Afton res,
Sure, some are volunteers, but some are grossly overpaid, even to the point of bankrupting the towns they work for.
Department heads, cops and firemen have been grossly overpaid for the last 15 to 20 years, based upon the actual amount of work they actually do. I couldn't believe what I was looking at when Virginia state salaries were published a few months ago in the media and I looked up a lot of state troopers I know. Some of the first sergeants and lieutenants are making $80,000 to $100,000 annually. This is absurd.
People took it seriously beause what is going on is serious. We are facing a real danger of coming apart entirely in the next few years, with whatever protections are left for those who shop for jobs are gone. Just like the Conservation garbage, the continuous siphoning of wealth into the super wealthy, away from the poor, while we remove the ability for people to move between classes, we are seeing the death of our nation.
Gasbag, you'll never be a real cop, so don't worry about what cops are making. You are just envious cause you ain't one!!
You are correct. At my age, I will never be a cop, state trooper or deputy sheriff again. The chances of my ever being a fireman aren't even slim to none, they are none to none. The firemen have a pretty hard and dangerous job when they actually have have to go to work and suppress a structure fire.
And you're right, I do envy a job where I have to punch a clock every day, answer to numerous command personnel, and be blamed when THEY need a convenient scapegoat to blame their mistakes in judgement on. If you recall in the latest sex scandals in the county cop shoppe, it's always the man lowest in the food chain who get terminated. The command staff gets a smack on the wrist, if that. Yes, I envy all of this.
Should I stop worrying about department heads and firemen too? Or were you just here to defend your boys in blue?
Most of the girls I know are giving up on the cops. They are dumb and mean. and married. Firemen are cool. I hear teachers are awesome. dunno
I hear that Iheartejade got shut down. What happened?
@GSOE - I had a similar reaction just looking at those - I'm also a state employee - doing a job that requires a high level of skills and a high level of education. On the other hand, I don't face the same types of risks that a state trooper does and I will be able to work for many more years (not sure how to evaluate that). I honestly have no idea if our salaries really are too high or not.
I think the real question with any of these jobs - teachers, professionals, cops and firemen - is: can you get quality people for the money you're willing to pay? How competitive are our salaries for these various fields? And you have to make that comparison based on a few things - local cost of living, working conditions, etc. We already have real difficulties hiring math and science public school teachers - or at least, hiring people with a background in math or science - to teach those subjects at the salaries we currently pay. Yes, the private schools are able to find those people - often for less money - but it's not an apples-to-apples comparison - the working conditions are not the same.
I know there was a move to evaluate salaries in my field against studies/databases of similar folks in the "private sector" (often gov't contractors). My employer was all hot and bothered to dangle promises of potential 'merit' pay increases - for some employees - in exchange for the certain loss of some benefits for all employees who opted into the plan. This exercise was supposed to help amass data in support of their case. Of course, what they immediately uncovered was how egregiously bad salaries were - such that even if you accept the right-wing trope that public employee benefits are gilded, the overall compensation package was less than the private sector.
I suspect that you'd find this to be the case with a great deal of Virginia State employees (I'm not sure there is a true private sector labor market for public safety workers, Libertarian fantasies of fee-for-service private governments aside - can you imagine what it would be like if the only government we had is like your HOA?). I suspect this is true for many more states than just Virginia and candidly I think it's the objective of the 'reformers' - drive compensation into the ground and let adverse selection work it's magic on (drive out the best) public employees (and "government").
I think you have to ask the question: can we contract out these services and if we do contract them, can you get the same level/quality of service at the same or lower price? The state's recent boondoggle with VITA (our pro-business IT-guru Governor Warner's baby) and the big non-delivery and cost-overrun scandal with Northrup-Grumman are one good piece of evidence in answering that question. The other very instructive piece were the multiple evaluations of the ABC system - when everyone across the political spectrum came to realize that it's cheaper for state employees to sell the alcohol in state run stores - and the retail sector is about as not-inherently-governmental an area as you could possibly get into. In other words, the privatizing trope is...just a trope.
Mr/Mrs/Miss Citizen, iheartejade still works for me. ????
But from the looks of her last post, I suspect she's finally gotten tired of them all sampling the cookies and then criminally charging her just to shut her up, or criminally charging her just to get rid of her when they move on to the next batch of cookies.
Scott, I can assure you most cop shoppes aren't currently getting competent or quality employees even though the salary and benefits package is quite attractive now. Do you realize how many of these new rookies rush home after work and flip on their video games? They play so many violent video games that they take this to the streets with them the next day. Another way to guage what they are getting is to visit any of the cop shoppe forums online and read some of the stuff these guys post daily. IMHO, most of these guys would be canned if their supervisors could suceesfully identify them online and read what some of them post. Police brutality is alive and well in the online cop shoppe forums. The "us vs them" mentality shines through too.
I can't wait to see the "Corrections Special Issue", should be a doozie.
Another way to guage what they are getting is to visit any of the cop shoppe forums online and read some of the stuff these guys post daily.
I've actually done that and yes, I'm not terribly surprised, and in a way, I'm kind of glad they aren't the sharpest tacks in the box either.
The "us vs them" mentality shines through too.
Oh yes, no doubt at all. I'm one of those card-carrying ACLU types.
I really just don't know, WRT law enforcement, how out of line our salaries are (ie: I'm ignorant, not challenging what you say), but I wanted to make the larger point about salaries in general.


text:
August 2, 2010
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Office of Program Planning and Integration
1315 East West Highway, Room 15749
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Re: NOAA's Next Generation Strategic Plan
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on NOAA's Next Generation Strategic Plan.
The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) is a nonprofit scientific association dedicated to advancing biological research and education for the welfare of society. Founded in 1947 as a part of the National Academy of Sciences, AIBS became an independent, member-governed organization in the 1950s. AIBS is sustained by a robust membership of individual biologists and nearly 200 professional societies and scientific organizations with a combined individual membership exceeding 250,000.
The draft strategic plan addresses many important issues facing the nation: addressing climate change, conserving biological diversity, and improving the health and resiliency of coastal and marine ecosystems. Meeting these challenges requires science. Although the strategic plan is infused with science, the plan's long-term goals fail to reflect the proposed mission statement, of which "science" is the first word. Instead, science is relegated to second tier "enterprise." Although science is essential for achieving each of the four goals outlined in the plan, the need for science within NOAA goes beyond these areas. In the final strategic plan, science should be a top tier, NOAA-wide strategic goal.
Within the new long-term goal for science, the existing objectives for science and technology should be supplemented to adequately represent the breadth of NOAA's scientific work. First, the objective to achieve "a holistic understanding of the Earth system through research" should include the important work of external partners in academia, government, nonprofits, and private industry. Limited resources in recent years have restricted NOAA's ability to partner with non-agency scientists and to fund extramural grants to conduct research. The revised plan should acknowledge this deficiency and set goals for remedying it.
The second scientific objective, "accurate and reliable data from sustained and integrated Earth observing systems" should be broadened to include the important contributions of environmental monitoring conducted by researchers. Although technology is becoming increasingly important in observing and monitoring Earth systems, personnel are vital for monitoring efforts, such as biological observations. The plan should reflect the fact that staff, in conjunction with observing systems, are needed to fully achieve all of NOAA's scientific goals.
In addition, scientific collections are an important part of NOAA's records of environmental information. The strategic plan should address the curation of, and access to, the 40 scientific collections held by the agency. The directors of the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Science and Technology Policy instructed agencies to do so in the annual Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies (M-10-30) released on July 21, 2010: "Agencies should implement strategies for increasing the benefits for science and society derived from scientific collections by following the recommendations in the report by the Interagency Working Group on Scientific Collections and efforts outlined in the National R&D Strategy for Microbial Forensics."
Scientific collections, including biological specimens, tissue and cell cultures, and soil and water samples, offer a treasure trove of information about Earth systems and aid in regulation and management of the nation's natural resources. These collections, which are irreplaceable data, contribute to cutting edge research on environmental contamination, biodiversity, and climate change. For instance, specimens collected from the outer continental shelf during past decades serve as baselines of the biological, sedimentary, physio-chemical, and oceanographic conditions of U.S. waters. In the Gulf of Mexico, this information will be vital in responding to the BP oil spill.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of these comments. If we may be of further assistance on this or any other matter, please contact Dr. Robert Gropp, AIBS Director of Public Policy at 202-628-1500.
Sincerely, Richard T. O'Grady, Ph.D. Executive Director
Read more AIBS Position Statements


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From The Houston Chronicle:
Perry "Bit" Whatley, 84, a former Baytown refinery worker and lifelong Texan, spent his final days in self-imposed exile, a fugitive from a more than two-year-old fight with the state probate courts.
Whatley was living in Arizona when he died, but it was not where he wanted to be, away from his home, cut off from his family and his $2 million fortune.
It was an unlikely, but perhaps unavoidable, end for the retired machinist, a frugal man who had wisely invested his savings in Humble Oil, which became Exxon, then Exxon Mobil. The investment made him a millionaire nearly twice over, and yet for 20 years after his retirement he lived a simple life in a simple Baytown bungalow until last summer, when he fled the jurisdiction of Harris County Probate Court.
Whatley died Feb. 14 in a rental home in Tempe in the company of his longtime caregiver, Dawn Johnson Whatley, 63, whom he married in a bedside ceremony in January 2005. His wife was his sole heir.
The Whatleys, both seniors with serious health problems, abandoned their own home and went into hiding together last summer. They left to avoid a hearing and, later, orders issued by Probate Judge Mike Wood that declared Whatley incapacitated, took away control of his assets and could have forced him into a nursing home.
Perry Whatley's sad saga started out as a dispute between his niece and his new wife, two people who professed devotion to him and who also sought control over his fortune, his health care and his basic life decisions.
But the fight, taken to court in April 2005 by Whatley's niece, morphed quickly into a twisted legal free-for-all and a near-infamous example for critics who claim Texas probate courts have run amok. It also underscores how worries over a loved one — seemingly simple at first — can escalate into a costly and chaotic legal conflict.
It took decades for Whatley to make his money.
In less than two years, nearly $1.5 million has been spent on legal bills and court-authorized expenses for his probate case and related litigation, based on case documents.
And though Whatley is gone, the fight over what remains of his money is far from over.
Read the rest of this disturbing story at The Houston Chronicle.


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Encyclopedia Britannica vs. Wikipedia [INFOGRAPHIC]
The Encyclopedia Britannica officially announced it would scrap its print edition on Tuesday in the face of plummeting sales. For many, this was a foregone conclusion. In a world of infinite and instant knowledge, the idea of owning a $1,395 32-volume hardcover library that's outdated the moment you crease the spine is laughable.
Wikipedia certainly had a hand in Britannica's print death knell. The crowd-powered reference site is arguably the greatest knowledge experiment civilization has ever seen. And while its critics are the first to point out its unreliability, advocates would counter that a self-correcting collective is more reliable and scalable than a room full of scholars (who, on occasion, also make mistakes).
Our friends at Statista have taken a look at the economics of Wikipedia and Britannica. The timeline and stats below give a good overview of how these two sources diverge, and the inevitable dominance of the web.
Are you sad to see the print version of Britannica go? Do you feel it's still worthwhile to pay for its digital offerings?
Infographic courtesy of Statista.
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, AnthiaCumming


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A collaboration of Irish artists Gareth Kennedy and Sarah Browne, Kennedy Browne's videos, workshops, and sculptural installations have probed common stories of global capital: the effects on workers of relocating companies, the visionary boyhood narratives of tech company founders, and struggles over privacy in the age of the internet.
The exhibition will survey six bodies of work in video, sculpture, and text produced by Kennedy Browne since 2009. The presentation is named for one video titled The Special Relationship (2013), which juxtaposes a voice diagnosing posttraumatic stress disorder with photographs of airplanes carrying US military personnel landing and departing from Shannon, a regional airport in the west of Ireland. Officially a neutral country in all wars, Ireland nevertheless has a special relationship with the US that the works in the exhibition uncover. From Ireland's position "between Boston and Berlin," a geopolitical frame once described by Irish politicians, Kennedy Browne gives US museum audiences new perspectives about both countries' roles in international commerce and technoculture.
The Special Relationship is Kennedy Browne's first US museum survey.
Curated by Amy L. Powell, curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, with research assistance from Alyssa Bralower, doctoral student in Art History


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Apple released iOS 4.2 to users today and the new iOS software brings in a lot of new changes. iOS 4.2 is also a unified OS across all devices including the iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone.
However, users who have upgraded to iOS 4.2 are reporting that the update is wiping out all their music/songs and launching the Music app displays a message saying "No Content" available. This message can come as a shocker to many, but fortunately your music has not been wiped out and there is a quick fix for this issue.
TechCrunch has pointed out to a simple fix for this issue. If you see "No Content" when you launch the music app on the iPhone, iPod Touch or the iPad, just plug the device into the computer and play a song from the device. Once you have done that sync your device and your songs will be recognized again.
So don't panic, your music is still there alive and waiting to be heard.


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I'm relatively new to C# programming, and right in the middle of a little mini-project of mine, I've come across a stumbling block that I'm hoping someone can shed a bit of light on...
Basically, I'm using a website to retrieve updated petrol prices for a certain area, which the website displays as a table. However, the table has no "id" attribute, and I need to read the contents of only ONE cell from a 4x4 table. Is there anyway to do this?
If you need more information, please ask.
Many Thanks,
Chris M.


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'Glee' Star Cory Monteith Gushes Over Taylor Swift: 'She's Pretty Fantastic!'
There's been no official confirmation (or denial) about whether Cory is dating Taylor, but one thing's for sure — he's nuts about her!"Pretty fantastic" is how Cory Monteith describes his "great friend" Taylor Swift while chatting with CMT Radio Live host Cody Alan, People reports. During the interview, Cory spills on a recent trip to Pinz Bowling in Studio City (pictured above) and admits that he was no match for Taylor's pin-dominating skills. HollywoodLife.com has exclusive details from Taylor and Cory's trip to the bowling alley Mar. 23 — and it sounds like Cory had his sights on a lot more than just the pins!
Pinz staffer Mike Kyle tells us EXCLUSIVELY that Taylor and Cory "were hand in hand. He was paying for her. She was like, 'No no.' But he was like, 'No, I want to.' Then she kinda smiled at him." Not only that, but they were hugging and nuzzling. Cute! "I know body language," Mike adds. "And she was leaning into him. They were pretty much together, you could tell. They were kind of by themselves before everyone started playing."
In his interview, which will air Apr. 21, Cory says, "I'm not gonna deny this — I was just an uncoordinated mess that day and I couldn't put the ball into the pins. … I couldn't do it. It was bad."
Hm… maybe Cory was an "uncoordinated mess" that day because being around Taylor made him nervous! What do you think, BFFs? Is there harmony between these two singers — or is Cory just a really bad bowler? You tell us!
Read More on This Adorable Couple:
- Taylor & Selena Have Dated the Same Guy Before – But Will They Share Cory Monteith?
- Hey BFFs! Not Only Can Taylor Swift Sing, But She Can Interior Decorate Too!


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This Calendar is provided as a great tool for REGISTERED WEBSITE USERS to be able to add events, most likely an XC or Track meet you are hosting. You can provide meet information, starting times and location along with your contact information for other coaches wanting to attend. In the "Contact" part of the form, please provide your Name and email. It is up to you if you want to provide a contact phone number.
|January, 2019
|February, 2019
|No events
It's often said that new coaches tend to coach the way that they were coached. An important thought for all of us to consider, and in this instance it is especially good to know....
It all started in a different time and a different place..England. It all ended, a 21 year coaching stint at Santa Fe Prep, with one last victory lap around the Great Friends UNM Track Complex in celebration ....
Gering, a runner from San Felipe Pueblo, ran track his junior and senior years at Santa Fe Indian School and cross-country his senior year. Since then he has been chasing his dream — literally ....
MADISON, Wis.— For the fourth time in the last five years....
Begun in 1987 by a small group of visionaries with the goal of a NM Meet of Champions, as well as developing better communication and unification between all track and cross country coaches, the New Mexico Track and Cross Country Coaches Association was born and has grown to what you see today. Our association has and must continue to be the guiding force for positive change and the protection of all aspects of New Mexico Track and Cross Country that we believe important to our athletes and our coaches. Changes are a part of life. We are our best "Advocates" for helping to direct that change in a positive and constructive way. We must continue to "Educate" our membership and give them the best tools for success. And, as a professional organization, we must "Celebrate" those successes, those stories, those special moments and actions that make our sports such wonderful tools in helping to mold the youth of New Mexico. We ARE the NMTCCCA !!!


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TRANI:(Redirected from MOSES DI TRANI.)
- Aaron di Trani:
- Isaiah (ben Elijah) di Trani (the Younger):
- Isaiah (ben Mali) di Trani (the Elder; RID):
- Joseph di Trani:
- Joseph di Trani (the Elder):
- Joseph (ben Moses ben Joseph) di Trani (the Younger):
- Moses ben Joseph di Trani (the Elder; called
- Moses ben Joseph di Trani (the Younger):
- Solomon di Trani:
Family of scholars, members of which were prominent in Spain and the Levant.Aaron di Trani:
Spanish tosafist; born in Castile; descendant of a family which produced several eminent Talmudists. He received his education under the direction of R. Joseph Alfasi. At an early age he removed to Italy, whence he went, in 1502, to Adrianople. There he made the acquaintance of Joseph Caro, who had gone thither to publish his "Bet Yosef." As a Talmudist, Trani was very highly esteemed by his contemporaries. He ranks among the representatives of pilpul, not only on accountof his preference for the Tosafists, but also by virtue of the fact that his nephew and pupil Moses di Trani, in conjunction with the son of Joseph Caro, introduced pilpul into the schools of Palestine. It may, however, be assumed that Aaron Trani's pilpul did not go to extremes, else Joseph Caro would not have spoken of him so highly. The few notes concerning him which may be found in the works of others were collected by Michael in his "Or ha-Ḥayyim."
Scholar of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries; uncle of Moses di Trani. Expelled, with his brother, from the city of his birth in 1502, he settled in Salonica.Joseph di Trani (the Elder):
Talmudist of the latter part of the sixteenth century; lived in Greece. By contemporary scholars he was called
Talmudist; born at Safed 1573; died at Constantinople 1644. He early showed a marked predilection for Talmudic studies, and upon the death of his father (1585) he was sent to Egypt, where he continued them under his uncle Solomon di Trani. When the latter, in 1587, fell a victim to the plague, Joseph returned to Safed, where he became a pupil of Solomon Sagi. There he remained until 1609, when he received a call to a rabbinate in Constantinople, where he officiated until his death. He is reported to have founded several benevolent institutions in Constantinople. Of his works the only one known is "Ẓofenat Pa'neaḥ (Venice, 1653; Frankfort-on-the-Oder, 1694), a collection of sermons on the weekly lessons and the festivals.Moses ben Joseph di Trani (the Elder; called
Talmudist; born at Salonica 1505; died in Jerusalem 1585. His father had fled to Salonica from Apulia three years prior to his birth. While still a boy Moses was sent to Adrianople to pursue the study of the Talmud under the supervision of his uncle Aaron. At the age of sixteen he went to Safed and completed his studies under Jacob Berab. In 1525 he was appointed rabbi at Safed; he held this office until 1535, when he removed to Jerusalem.
Moses di Trani was the author of: "Ḳiryat Sefer" (Venice, 1551), commentary on the Bible, the Talmud, and difficult passages in the commentaries of Maimonides; "Sefer ha-Teḥiyyah weha-Pedut" (Mantua, 1556; Wilna, 1799; Sudzilkov, 1834; Warsaw, 1841), commentary and notes on ch. vii. and viii. of Saadia Gaon's "Emunot we-Deot"; "Bet Elohim" (Venice, 1576), a moral and philosophical work on prayer, atonement, and the fundamental principles of faith; "She'elot u-Teshubot" (vol. i., ib. 1629; vol. ii., ib. 1030), a collection of 841 responsa, with an index.Moses ben Joseph di Trani (the Younger):
Flourished during the first half of the seventeenth century. He published the commentaries of his father, and wrote some sermons, which appeared in the "Ẓofenat Pa'neaḥ" (Venice, 1653).Solomon di Trani:
Son of Moses ben Joseph the Elder, and brother of Joseph di Trani the Elder; flourished in Egypt, where he died from the plague in 1587. He wrote a preface to the works of his father, in which is contained much information bearing on the Trani family. He is also the reputed author of "Marbiẓ Torah be-Yisrael," a collection of sermons, still extant in manuscript.
- Zunz, Z. G. pp. 58, 229-230;
- idem, Literaturgesch. p. 363;
- Azulai, Shem ha-Gedolim;
- Conforte, Ḳore ha-Dorot (ed. Cassel);
- Jost, Gesch. der Juden, viii. 456, note;
- Güdemann, Gesch. ii. 189 et seq.;
- Bass, Sifte Yeshenim. i. 49a, 68a;
- Berliner, Peleṭat Soferim, p. 13;
- idem, in his Magazin, i. 45, 54;
- Fuenn, Keneset Yisrael;
- Benjacob, Oẓar ha-Sefarim;
- Steinschneider, Cat. Bodl. cols. 1392, 1536, 2006-2007;
- De Rossi, Dizionario, p. 319;
- Ibn Yaḥya, Shalshelet ha-Ḳabbalah, ed. Amsterdam, p. 51a.


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I love writing and I'm grateful to make a living at it. But sometimes, when I've been hunched over my computer for 73 hours straight and I still haven't quite broken the story that consumes every recess of my conscious and subconscious mind, and my right hand has attractively stiffened into its mouse-clicking position at all times, like the desperate final clutches of a melting witch—I tend to get a bit cranky about the whole business. So, how does the burnt-out writer get her mojo back? She goes to a writers conference!
Like leafing through my wedding album after a marital spat, attending a writers conference reminds me why I fell in love with writing in the first place. It doesn't matter if I'm teaching a workshop, or taking one. Just being among so many other people who share my passion for writing always renews my energy for my own work. Plus, where else are you able to speak so freely about the creative process without sounding like a total douchebag?
It's all too easy to take the things we love for granted, if we're not careful. Even a cool job, like writing a pilot for a TV network, can become mundane when you're banging it out every day, word by painstaking word. Which is why, every now and then, it's important to ship the kids off to grandmas, squeeze yourself into that expensive silk negligée, and slow dance to your old favorite song (even if you are only doing this metaphorically from the comfort of your conference hotel room).
There's so much I've learned at writing conferences over the years and I'm thankful to have made many friends. But just as meaningful is the feeling these gatherings always rekindle in me—that even after all these years, I'm still just as excited about writing as the day I first fell in love with it. Which begs the question: why don't I go to writers conferences more often? Writing holds such an important place in my life it's rather ironic that I often fret over taking time off from my writing (duh) to honor it.
Because the truth is: being a writer is more than just a job. Our work is sacred (this blog post notwithstanding), because in order to do it, we must be willing to give up pieces of ourselves. If you've never been to a writers conference, this is the secret we writers whisper in each other's ears once we're squirrelled away inside its secure confines, reveling just as much in our shared suffering as we do in our joy. But if you are not at a writers conference while reading this, a belated warning: this is the douchebaggy part.
I will be teaching two workshops at the Whidbey Island Writers Conference located in beautiful Puget Sound, October 25 – 27th. For more information, CLICK HERE.


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A new study finds that autism may begin in the womb, released on the heels of a CDC report that says there's been a huge surge in autism diagnoses for children.
Children with autism often aren't diagnosed until they are a toddler, but a new study finds that autism may begin before a baby is even born. This study comes on the heels of a CDC report released this week that says rates of autism diagnoses are surging far higher than they've predicted. Researchers for a new study released by the New England Journal of Medicine looked at brain tissue from 11 autistic children who died and compared with with 11 children without autism. In 10 of the 11 samples from the children with autism, they found "patches of disorganization in the cortex," NPR reported. These patches, or clusters of disorganized brain cells, came from the region of the brain that regulates communication, emotions and ability to function in social settings, things that can be difficult for children with autism. These parts of the brain start developing during the second trimester, said Eric Courchesne, director of the Autism Center of Excellence at the University of California, San Diego and an author of the paper. "So something must have gone wrong at or before that time," Courchesne said, according to NPR. "Because this points to the biological onset in prenatal life, it calls sharply into question other popular notions about autism." These popular notions include the now-refuted claims, made popular by the likes of Jenny McCarthy, that vaccinations can cause autism. The CDC released a report this week that says there's a 30 percent increase among 8-year-olds diagnosed with autism. While the huge jump might be startling, the CDC also says this increase reflects better awareness and more accurate diagnoses. However, the number of reported cases varies widely by state. "The number of children identified with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) ranged from 1 in 175 children in Alabama to 1 in 45 children in New Jersey," CDC said in its report, based on a 2010 survey. While autism rates are soaring, scientists have been scrambling to find a cause. This new study supports other research that suggests autism can begin in the brain's frontal region during pregnancy, but experts say it should be considered preliminary. "But, this research provides probably some of the most elegant evidence for those two very important biological themes," Dr. Janet Lainhart, an autism researcher and psychiatry professor at the University of Wisconsin, told the Associated Press. The CDC report on surging rates combined with the new study that shows autism can begin in the womb shows that it is vital to begin helping kids as early as possible to try and rewire their brains, experts say. "The most important thing for parents to do is to act early when there is a concern about a child's development," Dr. Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp, chief of CDC's Developmental Disabilities Branch, told NBC News. "If you have a concern about how your child plays, learns, speaks, acts or moves, take action. Don't wait." This study is one of the first that included samples taken from children. Most studies have only been able to look at tissue samples from adults. Advocacy groups for autism have started a program asking for brain tissue donations to help researchers. There also websites advocating for families to get involved with the research.%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A//beacon.deseretconnect.com/beacon.gif%3Fcid%3D157359%26pid%3D46%22%20/%3E


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The opening sequence is an introduction to the series Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. It is played at the beginning of every episode.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
The sequence opens by showcasing the four elemental bending styles: waterbending, earthbending, firebending, and airbending. The waterbending is performed by Pakku,[1] the earthbending by an unknown earthbender,[2] the firebending by Azula, and the airbending by an Air Nomad. The sequence cuts to the map of the Avatar World, followed directly by Katara's explanation regarding the origins of the Hundred Year War launched by the Fire Nation. Following this, Avatar Roku is seen bending all four elements before disappearing in a gust of air, just as Katara states that the Avatar disappeared when the world needed him most. Next, Katara and Sokka appear, followed by Aang, showing scenes from the first episode. The title card is shown immediately after. The Chinese characters that appear at the top of the show's title card mean "the spiritual medium who has descended upon the mortal world".
Katara narrates the opening sequence. In the first episode, she states:
"Water. Earth. Fire. Air. My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old days, a time of peace when the Avatar kept balance between the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads. But that all changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar mastered all four elements. Only he could stop the ruthless firebenders. But when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years have passed and the Fire Nation is nearing victory in the War. Two years ago, my father and the men of my tribe journeyed to the Earth Kingdom to help fight against the Fire Nation, leaving me and my brother to look after our tribe. Some people believe that the Avatar was never reborn into the Air Nomads, and that the cycle is broken. But I haven't lost hope. I still believe that somehow, the Avatar will return to save the world."
In subsequent episodes, she says:
"Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years passed and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar, an airbender named Aang. And although his airbending skills are great, he has a lot to learn before he's ready to save anyone. But I believe Aang can save the world."
In the unaired pilot episode, she says:
"Water. Earth. Fire. Air. My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old days, how the four nations once lived in harmony. How everything changed once the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar mastered all four elements. Only he could stop the ruthless firebenders. But when the world needed him most, he disappeared. Nobody had seen him for a hundred years, until my brother and I found him, an airbender named Aang. The problem is, this Avatar is still a kid, and even though his airbending skills are great, he has a lot to learn before he's ready to save anyone. The Fire Nation will do anything to capture Aang before he masters all four elements, so I must keep him safe until he's ready to fulfill his destiny. My brother thinks I'm crazy, but I believe Aang can save the world."
On the first page of The Promise Part One, Katara says:[3]
"Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years passed and my brother Sokka and I discovered the new Avatar, an airbender named Aang. Although his airbending skills were great, he had a lot to learn before he was ready to save anyone. But from the first day I met him, I believed Aang would save the world. And you know what? I was right. With the help of his friends, Aang defeated Fire Lord Ozai and ended the Hundred Year War. Zuko, Ozai's son and our ally, became the new Fire Lord. Together with Earth King Kuei, Aang and Zuko promised to return the nations to harmony."
- Main article: Writing in the World of Avatar
The Legend of Korra
The show opens by showcasing the four most recent Avatars bending their native element: earthbending by Kyoshi, firebending by Roku, airbending by Aang, and waterbending by Korra. Behind each bender is calligraphy similar to that seen in the background of the original series. It subsequently shows a picture of Team Avatar, followed by a map of the Avatar World. After that, Tenzin explains the transformation of the Fire Nation colonies into the United Republic of Nations, before the picture zooms in on the capital: Republic City. A statue of Aang is seen on an island in the bay, and it is explained how the Avatar accomplished many remarkable feats in his life, before he eventually died and was reborn into the next nation of the Avatar Cycle.[4] As of the second episode, the opening sequence is much shorter; the display of bending is abridged to show only a few seconds of each element and the sequence skips over the origin of Republic City to show the statue of Aang, with Korra nearby striking a similar pose.
Tenzin narrates the opening sequence. In the first episode, he states:
"Earth. Fire. Air. Water. When I was a boy, my father, Avatar Aang, told me the story of how he and his friends heroically ended the Hundred Year War. Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Zuko transformed the Fire Nation colonies into the United Republic of Nations, a society where benders and nonbenders from all over the world could live and thrive together in peace and harmony. They named the capital of this great land Republic City. Avatar Aang accomplished many remarkable things in his life, but sadly, his time in this world came to an end. And like the cycle of the seasons, the cycle of the Avatar began anew."
In subsequent episodes, he says:
"Earth. Fire. Air. Water. Only the Avatar can master all four elements and bring balance to the world."
- In the opening of both series, the airbenders featured are the only characters who begin their respective bending sequence without having both feet on the ground.
- Airbending is the only art to be performed by a man in both opening sequences.
- In the opening of both series, the element performed last is the native element of the Avatar in that series.
- In most episodes of the second series, Shiro Shinobi narrates events of previous episodes, similar to Roku's "Previously on Avatar" sequence from the first series. The sequence is shown with an effect similar to newsreels in the 1920s.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
- While Katara says the words "everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked", a line of firebenders is shown as they are seen in the series. However, the war began one hundred years prior, when the armor used by the Fire Nation military supposedly had large shoulder spikes and a faceless helmet, according to Arnook.[5]
- The unnamed earthbender in the initial sequence is a sort of prototype of Toph. However, Aaron Ehasz later suggested that the character should be a girl.[2]
- When Azula demonstrates firebending, she uses conventional fire rather than her trademark blue fire.
- Aang saves Katara from the fire dragon the magician sent her way in "The Deserter" with a move similar to the one performed by the Air Nomad in the opening sequence.
- In the opening sequence of the second episode, "The Avatar Returns", Katara states that she and her brother have discovered the new Avatar, an airbender named Aang; however, she did not know at that time that Aang was the Avatar, discovering as such in the very same episode.
The Legend of Korra
- Kyoshi is shown bending an element for the first time without using her fans.
- Aang is wearing different clothes than those he wears in the actual series. These are also used for his design in the "Who is Amon?" photo album on Nickelodeon's website.[6]
- Korra uses a waterbending move similar to the one she used during the semifinal match against the Bau Ling Buzzard Wasps.[7]
- Tenzin uses an airbending move similar to that of Aang's while dueling Zaheer at the Northern Air Temple.[8]
- In the extended opening sequence, there is a picture showing the original Team Avatar: Aang is in his original design used in Books One and Two, Katara is in her original Book One design, Toph is in her original Book Two design, Suki is in her Kyoshi Warriors makeup, Sokka is in his original Book One design but also has his space sword from Book Three, and Zuko is in his Book Three design.
- This is Suki's only appearance and mention in the entirety of the series.


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WEST KENNEBUNK — The Animal Welfare Society is reminding all pet owners to take extra care with their pets this winter by following these tips from the shelter's humane educator, Lona Kapler.
"With temperatures dropping and the wind chill increasing, it is especially important to keep pets indoors," Kapler said. "Fur only goes so far!"
■ Keep your dog's outdoor time to a minimum during extremely cold temperatures. Unless your pet is going for a jog or brisk walk with you, leaving a pet out in the cold for a long period of time can be dangerous.
■ Make sure that short-haired dog breeds have jackets to help them tolerate the cold weather. Examples of breeds that should wear winter jackets include greyhounds, pit bulls, boxers, Dalmatians, Weimaraners, dobermans, shar-peis, and all small and toy breed dogs.
■ Keep an eye on cats spending time outside.
"The Animal Welfare Society sees many cases of stray animals coming into the shelter with frostbite this time of year," said Kapler. "If at all possible, keep your cats inside."
If your cat does get outside, try to locate your pet as soon as possible. Make it a bit easier by ensuring that your pet has current ID tags.
■ If you see a stray animal outside, please contact your animal control officer. (Sanford's animal control officer, Lauren Masellas, can be reached at 324-3644.) The officer can pick up the animal and bring it to a shelter where it will be kept warm and dry.
■ If you have feral cats in your area, consider putting some hay in the area where they sleep, such as under your porch, in a barn or doghouse. Keep an eye on their food and water supply.
■ Rabbits should be brought inside, as well, even if they are accustomed to living in a pen outdoors.
"Even a garage or basement provides more protection from extreme temperatures than being left outside," said Kapler.
Give the rabbits plenty of hay and be sure to check water bottles often. They will freeze very quickly in cold temperatures.
The Animal Welfare Society, a nonprofit organization, exists to provide humane shelter and care to companion animals temporarily in need of housing, to assist in disaster response and to further the cause of responsible animal adoption and ownership through education and public awareness. The society actively promotes kindness, the elimination of cruelty and neglect to all animals, and the lifelong commitment of people to their pets.
For more information, please visit online at www.animalwelfaresociety.org.


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Hey everyone,
Just a quick FYI that the site will be down for a few hours on Wednesday, November 21, 2012 7am-9am PST (California time) while I do some software updates and put in a new spammer mod. We've been hit pretty hard lately and they are more annoying than ever. Hopefully the mod will be able to finally address them.
Update on November 21, 2012
Place to post your questions or comments about the website.
Moderators: Mini Forklift Ⓥ, C.O., Richard, robert, SyrLinus
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- beforewisdom
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Re: Update on November 21, 2012
"The plural of anecdote is not data." (Roger Brinner)
Re: Update on November 21, 2012
So.. the update is done. It appears that the only thing lost is the logo. If you find anything, please post here so I can look into it.
- Batman
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Re: Update on November 21, 2012
klaatu21 wrote:sensai ross, forgive me for doubting you and myself
Mini Forklift Ⓥ wrote:There's only one thing I'm riding at 6am, and it's not a bike!
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The Lyrics
My record Rocks and Blows from my new album "Bama Pi" came about from three things. First, the hook that comes from this unreleased, slick story verse I wrote with fellow Chicago artists Neak and Simeon Viltz (of Primeridian) about three years ago. It goes "White on the brown cinnamon roll/My synonyms cold/You a little runny nose." If you are familiar with Pugs Atomz music, you would understand that I'm about styles, patterns and double entendres.
That line breaks down like this: The "White on the brown" verse addresses the historic narrative of white America on blacks in slavery—a "cold" part of our nation's history. "White" is also a slang for cocaine or crack ("rocks") being sold by inner-city black teens. To add to this, I use the term "cinnamon roll" as punctuation to say "sweet," therefore playing into stereotypes. At this time in hip-hop, rappers were using food and condiments as metaphors for color, e.g., "peanut butter" for "tan." When recording that hook, I wanted a 50 Cent sing-songy-type vibe.
The Beat
When I went to producer Raj Mahal's crib in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, I was visiting from London and about to move my family back from Europe to Chicago. I had a lot on my mind. We had discussed working together a few months prior, and it was finally "go-time." He played me so much great music it was difficult to choose. He eventually told me to make a selection from the instrumentals on his SoundCloud page. Over 50 tracks later, I picked two beats—Rock and Blows and Grease—which are featured on my recently released Benetton Days mixtape.
When I left his crib headed home I passed some kids arguing on 18th Street about a mural painted for a teen that was fatally shot. I felt I should address that and a few other things. The track made me reminisce about growing up in Chicago. In the late '90s, my good friend Cosmo and I would head over to our then-producer Kenny Keys's crib to record. He lived close to Chicago and Pulaski but to get to his crib there would be two blocks of people yelling out "Rocks, Blows! Rocks, Blows!" I'm from the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, so drug dealers aren't new to me, but the bold approach of the sales pitch was. To think how much crack and cocaine have affected our nation really got me thinking and motivated to write something appropriate for the song.
Pugs Atomz is a multi-talented artist in the areas of video, fashion, design and music. Currently living in Chicago finishing up his debut project with Tokyo Dawn Records, after a extended, three-year stay in Europe with DJ Vadim and The Electric seeing all sides of the planet with there latest album "Life Is Moving."
Atomz has graced the stage at some of the world's largest music festivals including SXSW, Hip Hop Kemp, Boogie Brain, and Glastonbury to name a few. He has worked with countless key artists in the game such as Dj Vadim, KRS One, DJ Hitek, Bassnectar, Glitch Mob, Twista, to the next upcoming producer crafting beats in their bedroom. Atomz has been mentioned in publications like Rolling Stone, URB, Sister 2 Sister, to popular blogs like Okay player, Fake Shore Drive, DJ Booth, Frank 151, Hyper Trak and the list goes on. You might have heard him recently on the FIFA 2013 video game sound track with "Got That Fire", or seen him on a recent Episode of TV One's F.O.M.
His roots in Chicago's hip-hop scene run deep, from co-founding the CTA Radio Show (14+ years), presenting on the TV show Barbershop Hip Hop, to his time in the '90s leading the Nacrobats collective. Pugs has released numerous albums, compilations and mixtapes with key independent labels and blogs and is excited to share his new work via Tokyo Dawn Records.
On this track:
Pugs Atomz, lyrics, vocals
Raj Mahal, producer
"Singletrack" is CAR's Artist Story for Chicago performers in which songwriters, bands, playwrights, actors and writers discuss the creation of a recorded work alongside audio or video clips of the performance. To submit your song for consideration, please email our researchers.