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Why "Meat Made Us Smart" Is A Dumb Idea
By The Humane Hominid
Promote a cruelty-free lifestyle long enough, and you'll eventually bump into the expensive tissue hypothesis. No, it's not a pet theory about the rising cost of toilet paper, but the claim (usually foisted upon you by paleodieters or some carnist who took an anthropology class once) that meat-eating made humans into the big-brained rocket scientists we are today. How ungrateful and unnatural you are to reject millions of years of evolution. Surely, your brain has shrunk from lack of essential fatty acids, to even entertain such a notion as eating vegan.
To be fair, that last bit isn't actually the expensive tissue hypothesis (ETH). It's just the pop culture meme that grew out of an influential idea first put forward by Leslie C. Aiello and Peter Wheeler in 1995. While "meat made us smart" is not, as you'll see in a moment, actually what Aiello & Wheeler said, it is the message that carnist mainstream society took from the paper and ran with. It's been the urban caveman's naturalistic fallacy of choice ever since.
But as with many things in modern science, things look a lot different in the field today than they did 18 years ago. The idea that meat-eating was essential to the evolution of human intelligence isn't holding up as well as your average broscientist thinks it is. What follows is a slightly edited re-post from my usual blog that explains all the details.
"Energetics and the evolution of human brain size," published in the November 2011 edition of Nature, tests and refutes the expensive tissue hypothesis. It's impressive work, and pretty devastating to the hypothesis that has provided a rhetorical foundation to the paleo diet mythology for over a decade now.
Navarrete's, et. al.'s, main findings (further details below) are:
There is no negative correlation between brain size and gut size in any mammalian taxa, refuting the ETH's prediction to the contrary.
There is, however, a strong negative correlation between brain size and adipose tissue deposits; that is, fatter animals have smaller brains than lean ones; and,
Humans are seeming exceptions to this rule because our fat deposits don't interfere adversely with our means of locomotion, thus freeing up energy for encephalization that other primates have to use for carrying around all that fat.
And the stunning thing about this paper is that the authors didn't simply test the ETH using new data, but also re-tested the data from the original paper using newer statistical methods and controlling for confounding factors that that Aiello & Wheeler missed, for whatever reason.
Their conclusion: when adiposity, phylogenetic relationships, sample bias and sex differences are controlled for, Aiello's & Wheeler's original data don't support their hypothesis any better than the newer data does! In short, the ETH is wrong at the foundation, not just at the margins.
But, you should still hold your applause for a moment, so we can make clear not only what this paper is, but also what it is not.
It is not evidence that pre-humans were strict vegans. It is not evidence that Homo sapiens are natural herbivores. It is not evidence that meat and dairy, in themselves, are intrinsically either good or bad for us. If you're the kind of vegan who looks for an evolutionary hook to hang your fall-from-grace fantasies on, you'll have to look elsewhere. Prehistoric humans and their ancestors ate meat, and sometimes a heck of a lot of it. You'll just have to deal with that.
However, the paper is pretty good evidence that meat wasn't essential to our evolution. Meat, it turns out, probably didn't make us smart, after all. At the level of vegan blogosphere debate ammo, that might be cause for some applause.
Meat, it turns out, probably didn't make us smart, after all. At the level of vegan blogosphere debate ammo, that might be cause for some applause.
The Original Problem
To understand how the ETH came about, how thoroughly Navarrete, et. al., have undermined it, and on what grounds they have done so, it's probably a good idea to hop in the Wayback Machine and understand what Aiello & Wheeler were trying to explain in the first place.
The $64,000 question in paleoanthropology (adjusted for inflation) for the last 80 years or so has been, "why can humans have such freakishly huge brains compared to other primates their size, but still have the same basal metabolic rate?" The question is rooted in a biological principle called Kleiber's Law, which demonstrates that the metabolic rate of most animals scales to the 3/4 power of their mass; this law holds true across the animal kingdom, and appears to function in plants and bacteria, too: even within individual cells themselves! Kleiber's law can be used to precisely calculate the metabolic rate of any animal just by knowing their total mass. In short, it shows that animals of roughly the same size will have roughly the same basal metabolic rate (BMR), and that's where the problem with humans comes in.
It turns out that within an animal, the metabolic rate is not evenly distributed among all its tissues. Some tissues -- brains, hearts, lungs, livers, the GI tract, to name a few -- use more calories than others; they are thus "expensive." Every organ has its own individual metabolic rate. So, even though animals of equal size will have equal overall BMRs, they won't necessarily allocate that energy to their organs in the same way.
Let's say you have two species of roughly equal mass. One of them is characterized by a super strong heart, and the other by advanced lung capacity. Hearts and lungs both use a lot of energy, so each species will allocate its overall BMR to its distinct tissues in different ways, but will still have the same total BMR as the other. This means that without a change in overall mass, the strong-hearted species can never have the amazing lungs of the strong breather, and vice versa. Kleiber's law must hold, and to do that, some organs and tissues have to take priority over others. So long as their overall BMRs remain the same, different species of equal mass can display a lot of variation in the ways their individual tissues consume energy.
This is the crux of the human brain problem.
Using Kleiber's law, Aiello & Wheeler noted that an 80-lb. australopithecine would have had roughly the same BMR as an 80-lb. Homo sapiens, despite the difference in their brain sizes. The human brain would have 4 to 5 times the metabolic cost of the softball-sized australopith brain. So, Aiello & Wheeler reasoned, in order to maintain the BMR predicted by our mass, humans must have made a trade-off between competing tissues at some point in our evolution; i.e., as our brains gobbled up more energy, some other set of tissues had to get less, and thus shrink over evolutionary time. Something had to give.
After assessing the cost and importance of various tissues within modern humans, Aiello & Wheeler concluded that the human tissue most reduced in comparison to other primates was the GI tract. As our brains got bigger, our guts got smaller. As a result, we had to become dependent on more high-quality, nutrient-dense, easily-digested food than other primates to maintain the high cost of our brains, since our reduced guts could no longer handle the sorts of food on which our ancestors had subsisted for millions of years. They proposed that the most likely reliable source of such calories was meat and other animal products. A dramatic increase in animal matter in the hominin diet eased the energy constraints imposed by nature on big brains, and allowed our brains to grow to massive proportions without violating Kleiber's law.
In the popular press and later, in the blogosphere, the short hand version of the ETH became, "meat made us smart," or "meat-eating made us human." But that's not precisely what Aiello & Wheeler were claiming, and the difference between what they claimed and what carnists who cite them claim is crucial to understanding what Navarrete, et. al., have accomplished with their new paper.
For the ETH, meat itself wasn't really the point. Though Aiello & Wheeler proposed it as the probable source of the necessary calories, they hinted that other high-quality foods, like sugary fruits, tubers, or oil-rich nuts and seeds, could also have done the job. A close reading shows that the ETH was fundamentally about total calories, not specific calorie sources. Even so, the prominence of meat-eating in the paper supplied de facto legitimacy to several paleofantasies about the necessity of meat to the human diet, one of which would become the modern paleo-diet movement.
...the prominence of meat-eating in the paper supplied de facto legitimacy to several paleofantasies about the necessity of meat to the human diet, one of which would become the modern paleo-diet movement.
But more fundamental to the ETH than meat-eating -- indeed, the whole point of the paper -- was the claim that Kleiber's law is maintained through a necessary trade-off between expensive tissues within a given organism, in this case Homo sapiens. Increased meat-eating was merely a consequence of this claim, not the foundation of it. And for the last 15 years or so, the argument over whether meat was important to our evolution has obscured the more fundamental -- and eminently more testable -- claim of an expensive tissue trade-off.
Any good hypothesis can produce at least one testable prediction. And the ETH has one, right there for everyone to see (though it's been astonishingly ignored for 15 years). If the ETH is true, we should expect to find a tight negative correlation between brain mass and the mass of other expensive tissues across a range of taxa, not just among primates. And it's this prediction, not whether cavemen were meat-eaters, that Navarrete, et. al., set out to test.
The Fat Of The Matter
The key way they tested the overall hypothesis across various mammal groups was controlling for adipose tissue deposits in their calculation of a given animal's mass. In short, they omitted fat deposit mass from all specimens, eliminating it as a variable. This was an important control tactic (and one not used by Aiello & Wheeler in their original paper), because adipose mass varies by season and habitat among many species, and can thus be a major confounding variable. Only by eliminating it altogether and testing brain size against fat-free body mass, the authors reason, could a possible trade-off between tissues be reliably detected.
Under these conditions, no negative correlation between brain size and digestive tract mass was found. In fact, no negative correlation was found between brain size and the mass of any expensive tissue. The authors did, however, uncover a tight negative correlation between brain size and adipose tissue depots: the fattest species had the smallest brains.
Given Kleiber's law, this might at first look like a dilemma: fat tissue doesn't use a whole lot of energy, so why would it constrain brain size? The answer is that it costs an animal a lot of energy to lug the extra weight around, especially while climbing or running. And it's here that humans -- along with whales and seals -- have an advantage: fat stores don't significantly interfere with our ways of getting around. Bipedalism and dorsoventral flexion (the swimming method used by cetaceans and pinnipeds) are simply more efficient ways of moving.
To understand just how big of an impact bipedalism has on human energy expenditure, take a look at the paper's Supplemental Material, and its discussion of the different energy costs that excess fat imposes on humans and chimpanzees. Human foragers spend between 18 to 22 percent of their daily energy on locomotion. Chimps have a comparable but somewhat larger range of 16 to 30 percent. But, because of the different ways they move around, a 10 percent increase in body fat deposits for humans means only a 1 percent increase in needed energy, while for chimps it means a 2 to 3 percent increase.
In other words, it costs chimps twice to three times as much energy to move around the same amount of body fat as a human. Further complicating the matter is that the energy cost of travel during climbing for primates is almost directly proportional to body mass. Quadrapedal terrestrial walking and brachiation as modes of transport simply impose higher costs on primates than does efficient bipedalism. This energy cost adds up over time (especially evolutionary time), and thus can constrain the total amount of BMR available for encephalization. Thus, because humans save so much energy by being bipedal, they can store relatively large amounts of adipose tissue and still grow big brains.
Digging Up Old Data
If Navarrete, et. al., had stopped there, they'd have a pretty strong case: the ETH's predicted negative correlation between brain size and organ mass appears not to exist, at least among mammals. But, they took their investigation a step further and decided to re-test Aiello's & Wheeler's original data set, controlled for several compounding factors that Aiello & Wheeler hadn't accounted for. And that's where the real knock-out punch to the ETH happens.
As detailed in the Supplemental Material, Aiello & Wheeler were working with a data set that had a couple of problems. Namely, it was biased towards catarrhine primates over platyrrhines; it didn't control for sex differences between members of species with marked sexual dimorphism (sexual size dimorphism affects body mass more than brain size), or for differences in the body mass of wild vs. captive specimens of the same species; and it didn't account for phylogenetic relationships between various hominid species (a fact I have pointed out before).
In fairness to Aiello & Wheeler, most of this was beyond their control. 15 years ago, for instance, we didn't know that Paranthropus was a sister taxa to Homo rather than a direct ancestor, and the literature on primate body masses simply didn't contain as wide a sampling of platyrrhines as it does today. Aiello & Wheeler did the best they could with what they had.
Nevertheless, Navarrete, et. al., were able to identify and control for these confounders in a new test using the latest phylogenetic statistical methods on the original data sample. And the results did not support Aiello's & Wheeler's hypothesis; even their own data failed the ETH in the end.
Taken together with the new author's own data, these re-testing results pretty much have put the ETH down for the count. If they want to save it, Aiello & Wheeler will have to tackle Navarrete, et. al., with much more rigorous data and analysis than they used the first time around. Make no mistake, this is a quiet revolution in action.
Make no mistake, this is a quiet revolution in action...there is now a robust and scientifically credible argument against the claim that meat-eating was essential to our evolution...
What this means to the vegan blogosphere is that there is now a robust and scientifically credible argument against the claim that meat-eating was essential to our evolution... and the case has nothing to do with animal rights or other aspects of vegan ethics. That being said, this paper cannot and should not be used as evidence that hominins did not eat meat at all, or that pre-human ancestors were purely frugivorous. If we do that with this paper, we'll be just as guilty of building a paleofantasy as the caveman dieters were when they turned the ETH into their shibboleth.
So, while you're dining on Tofurkey or some African pumpkin stew next holiday season, and obnoxious Uncle Carnist breaks out the old meat-made-us-human canard for the millionth time, feel free to take him to the mat. He's had it coming for years.


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Document below is a communication paper providing overview of the GSIM (v1.1) and its benefit.
Further resources are also available:
Generic Statistical Information Model (GSIM):
Communication Paper for a General Statistical Audience
(Version 1.1, December 2013)
About this document
This document provides an overview about the information represented in GSIM, and summaries of how the model will benefit statistical organizations and relationships to other models and standards.
|This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/. If you re-use all or part of this work, please attribute it to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), on behalf of the international statistical community.
Table of Contents
What is GSIM?
Benefits of GSIM for the organization as a whole
GSIM and GSBPM
What does it mean for me?
The Business view
The Information Technology view
SDMX, DDI and other standards
1. Across the world statistical organizations undertake similar activities albeit with variations in the processes each uses. Each of these activities use and produce similar information (for example all organizations use classifications, create data sets and disseminate information). Although the information used by statistical organizations is at its core the same, all organizations tend to describe this information slightly differently (and often in different ways within each organization). In the past, there was no common way to describe the information that is used. This makes it difficult to communicate clearly within and between statistical organizations and without this there was no foundation for in-depth collaboration, standardization, or the sharing of tools and methods.
2. The Generic Statistical Information Model (GSIM) is the first internationally endorsed reference framework for statistical information. This overarching conceptual framework will play an important part in modernizing, streamlining and aligning the standards and production associated with official statistics at both national and international levels.
3. GSIM is a reference framework of information objects, which enables generic descriptions of the definition, management and use of data and metadata throughout the statistical production process. It provides a set of standardized, consistently described information objects, which are the inputs and outputs in the design and production of statistics. As a reference framework, GSIM helps to explain significant relationships among the entities involved in statistical production, and can be used to guide the development and use of consistent implementation standards or specifications.
4. GSIM is one of the cornerstones for modernizing official statistics and moving away from subject matter silos. It is a key element of the strategic vision prepared by the High-Level Group for the Modernization of Statistical Production and Services (HLG), and endorsed by the Conference of European Statisticians 1 .
5. The modernization of statistical production is needed in order for statistical organizations to remain relevant and flexible in a dynamic and competitive information environment. It is hoped that statistical organizations will adopt and implement GSIM and the common language it provides. However, a model alone cannot transform an organization or its processes. In order to meet the future needs of statistical organizations, GSIM is designed to allow for innovative approaches to statistical production to the greatest extent possible. It is one of the main foundations of the Common Statistical Production Architecture 2 , a collaborative initiative to design common and interchangeable services with standard interfaces to support standardisation and modernisation. At the same time, GSIM supports current ways of producing statistics.
6. This paper provides an introduction to GSIM, summarizing the key points for a relatively general statistical audience. For more technical detail, please see the specification document and related material, available on the UNECE web site 3 .
7. GSIM provides the information object framework supporting all statistical production processes such as those described in the Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM) 4 , giving the information objects agreed names, defining them, specifying their essential properties, and indicating their relationships with other information objects. It does not, however, make assumptions about the standards or technologies used to implement the model.
8. GSIM does not include information objects related to business functions within an organization such as human resources, finance, or legal functions, except to the extent that this information is used directly in statistical production.
What is GSIM?
9. GSIM contains objects which specify information about the real world – 'information objects'. Examples include data and metadata (such as classifications) as well as the rules and parameters needed for production processes to run (for example, data editing rules). GSIM identifies around 110 information objects, which are grouped into four top-level groups, and are explained in more detail in the specification documentation.
Figure 1. GSIM Top-level information object Groups
10. The four top-level groups are described below:
The Business group is used to capture the designs and plans of statistical programs, and the processes undertaken to deliver those programs. This includes the identification of a Statistical Need, the Business Processes that comprise the Statistical Program and the evaluations of them.
The Exchange group is used to catalogue the information that comes in and out of a statistical organization via Exchange Channels. It includes objects that describe the collection and dissemination of information.
The Concepts group is used to define the meaning of data, providing an understanding of what the data are measuring.
The Structures group is used to describe and define the terms used in relation to information and its structure.
11. Figure 2 shows a simplified view of the information objects identified in GSIM. It gives users examples of the objects that are in each of the four top-level groups.
Figure 2. Simplified view of GSIM information objects
12. Figure 3 shows another view of one part of GSIM. This is a slightly more technical view, but still intended to be accessible by a relatively wide audience. Both figures 2 and 3 can be used as a means for communication with users who are interested in examples of the objects and relationships in GSIM.
Figure 3. Alternate simplified view of GSIM information objects
13. Figure 3 gives an example of GSIM information objects that tell a story about some of the information that is important in a statistical organisation. Information objects in the GSIM model are given in italics.
"A statistical organization initiates a Statistical Program. The Statistical Program corresponds to an ongoing activity such as a survey or an output series and has a Statistical Program Cycle (for example it repeats quarterly or annually).
The Statistical Program Cycle will include a set of Business Processes. The Business Processes consist of a number of Process Steps which are specified by a Process Design. These Process Designs have Process Input Specifications and Process Output Specifications. The specifications will often be pieces of information that refer to Concepts and Structures (for example, Statistical Classification, Variable, Population, Data Structure, and Data Set).
If, for example, the Business Process is related to the collection of data, there will be an Information Provider who agrees to provide the statistical organisation with data (via a Provision Agreement). This Provision Agreement specifies an agreed Data Structure and governs the Exchange Channel used for the incoming information. The Exchange Channel could be a Questionnaire or an Administrative Register. It will receive the information via a particular mechanism (Protocol) such as an interview or a data file exchange.
The Data Set produced by the Exchange Channel will be stored in a Data Resource and structured by a Data Structure."
Benefits of GSIM for the organization as a whole
14. It is intended that GSIM may be used by organizations to different degrees. It may be used in some cases only as a model to which organizations refer when communicating internally or with other organizations to clarify discussion. In other cases an organization may choose to implement GSIM as the information model that defines their operating environment. Various scenarios for the use of GSIM are valid, although those organizations that make use of GSIM to its fullest extent may expect to realize the greatest benefits.
Long term benefits
15. GSIM provides a set of standardized information objects, which are the inputs and outputs in the design and production of statistics. By defining objects common to all statistical production, regardless of subject matter, GSIM enables statistical organizations to rethink how their business could be more efficiently organized.
16. GSIM could be used to direct future investment towards areas of statistical production where the common need is greatest. It could also enable some degree of specialization within the international statistical community. For example, some organizations could specialize in seasonal adjustment, time series analysis or data validation, and other organizations could take advantage of this expertise.
17. Implementation of GSIM, in combination with GSBPM, will lead to more important advantages. GSIM could:
- Create an environment prepared for reuse and sharing of methods, components and processes;
- Provide the opportunity to implement rule based process control, thus minimizing human intervention in the production process;
- Facilitate generation of economies of scale through development of common tools by the community of statistical organizations.
Immediate benefits
18. A significant benefit of using GSIM is that it provides a common language to improve communication at different levels:
- Between the different roles in statistical production (business and information technology experts);
- Between the different statistical subject matter domains;
- Between statistical organizations at national and international levels.
19. Improving communication will result in a more efficient exchange of data and metadata within and between statistical organizations, and also with external users and suppliers.
20. GSIM can be used by organizations now to:
- Build capability among staff by using GSIM as a teaching aid that provides a simple easy to understand view of complex information and clear definitions;
- Validate existing information systems and compare with emerging international best practice and where appropriate leverage off international expertise;
- Guide development or updating of international or local standards to ensure they meet the broadest needs of the international statistical community.
GSIM and GSBPM
21.GSIM and GSBPM are complementary models for the production and management of statistical information. GSBPM models the statistical production process and identifies the activities undertaken by producers of official statistics that result in information outputs. These activities are broken down into sub-processes, such as "Impute" and "Calculate aggregates". As shown in Figure 6, GSIM helps describe GSBPM sub-processes by defining the information objects that flow between them, that are created in them, and that are used by them to produce official statistics.
Figure 4. GSIM and GSBPM
22. Greater value will be obtained from GSIM if it is applied in conjunction with GSBPM. Likewise, greater value will be obtained from GSBPM if it is applied in conjunction with GSIM. Nevertheless, it is possible (although not ideal) to apply one without the other. In the same way that individual statistical business processes do not use all of the sub-processes described within GSBPM, it is very unlikely that all information objects in the GSIM will be needed in any specific statistical business process.
23. Good metadata management is essential for the efficient operation of statistical business processes. Metadata are present in every phase of GSBPM, either created, updated or carried forward unchanged from a previous phase. In the context of GSBPM, the emphasis of the over-arching process of metadata management is on the creation, updating, use and reuse of metadata. Metadata management strategies and systems are therefore vital to the operation of GSBPM, and are facilitated by GSIM.
24. Applying GSIM together with GSBPM (or an organization-specific equivalent) can:
- Facilitate the building of efficient metadata driven collection, processing, and dissemination systems;
- Help harmonize statistical computing infrastructures.
25. GSIM supports a consistent approach to metadata, facilitating the primary role for metadata envisaged in Part A of the Common Metadata Framework "Statistical Metadata in a Corporate Context" 5 , that is, that metadata should uniquely and formally define the content and links between objects and processes in the statistical information system.
What does it mean for me?
The Business view
26. GSIM will help you to improve your communication with colleagues (both locally and internationally).
27. Communication of subject matter between domains is often poor, making the sharing of concepts, variables, and design components difficult without a complex mapping exercise. GSIM can serve as a common language and will ease communication between:
- Subject matter specialists, methodologists and information technologists;
- Statisticians in different domains of a statistical organization;
- Statisticians in different organizations.
28. GSIM will help you design and understand your processes (and their inputs and outputs) better.
29. For a production cycle, a statistician can design the input and the output, and the process in-between. In GSIM terms, the output and the input can be designed in terms of structures and concepts information objects, and the process in-between can be designed using the business information objects. The structures and concepts objects are provided by subject matter specialists.
30. As seen in Figure 4, if the GSBPM is considered as a frame of reference for statistical production processes, the first level can be considered as equivalent to the statistical production process as a whole. The next level corresponds to a phase of the statistical production process (for example the "Process" phase of the GSBPM). The third level corresponds to a sub-process (for example sub-process 5.3 of the GSBPM – Review and validate). The fourth level consists of the individual building blocks within the sub-process, such as detecting financial values that might be expressed in thousands rather than units.
Figure 5. GSIM information objects in context of GSBPM
31. An important issue for statisticians is the problem of single-use design components, which are often recreated or at least modified for each production cycle. GSIM facilitates the description of inputs and outputs at each level of the GSBPM, following the same pattern thus providing a consistent structure to design statistical processes. It supports the design, specification and implementation of harmonized methods and standard technology to create a generalized statistical production system.
32. Using GSIM will enable producing reusable and flexible process building blocks which can be used by statisticians to produce final products of varying complexity, facilitating the production of a wider variety of products and responding more easily to changing client needs.
33. The use of GSIM will reduce workloads as many processes can be repurposed and reused. This means less time spent on repetitive work and more time for innovation.
34. In the long term, GSIM will make statisticians less reliant on information technologists.
35. Statisticians are very much concerned today about the applicability, usability and stability of their methods and technical solutions. In the "stove-pipe" approach to statistical production, subject matter is heavily dependent upon the information technologists in the design, build and production of statistical systems.
36. Statisticians will gain greater control over the design of their processes making them more self-supporting in the design and production of their statistics.
37. Production will be based upon more standardized applications that are more robust to change and less vulnerable to changing personnel. An increase in the use of standardized applications, which can easily be shared across domains, will enable statisticians to more easily work in different domains.
The Information Technology view
38. A main concern for information technologists is the duplication of effort due to the "stove-pipe" organization of statistical production. Unstable and differing requirements from these "stove-pipes" lead to tailor made one–off solutions, whilst a high turnover of IT staff can result in poorly documented and non-standard applications.
39. The introduction of GSIM both at the national and at the international level can already bring short term benefits for information technology specialists. GSIM will provide a common language for information technologists to talk to clients and colleagues both locally and internationally.
40. At the national level, statisticians will become more self-supporting in the design (see Figure 6) and production of their statistics reusing and repurposing harmonized components GSIM will enable more flexible and modular production systems. Production will be based upon more standardized applications that are more robust to change and less vulnerable to changing of IT personnel. An increase in the use of standardized applications, which can easily be shared across domains, will enable the IT specialists to more easily work in different domains.
41. The use of GSIM will reduce the workload as many components can be repurposed and reused. This means less repetitive work and more time for innovation.
42. This will free the IT staff to make more robust applications and explore new ways to better meet the changing needs of the statistical organization and their clients at large. This will include more time for creation of robust, modular, harmonized, well documented processes that comply with the requirements of the Common Statistical Production Architecture.
Figure 6. Design your own imputation process
43. At the international level there will be increased possibilities for co-design and co-development of common components based upon more robust user-requirements from a wider user-community. The IT developers will also have access to a larger development community that all speak the same language to describe their statistical information.
SDMX, DDI and other standards
44. As a reference framework of information objects, GSIM has a complementary relationship with standards, such as SDMX (Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange) and DDI (Data Documentation Initiative), which are commonly used to represent and exchange statistical data and metadata.
45. The information objects within GSIM are conceptual; no specific physical representation of the information is prescribed. As a simplified illustration, the name of an organization can be defined as the same concept regardless of whether the information is recorded in a database, in a spreadsheet, in a CSV file, in an XML file or handwritten on a piece of paper.
46. GSIM allows organizations to start with a common language related to the data and metadata used throughout the statistical production process. In this context, GSIM information objects have been mapped to relevant representations in SDMX and DDI.
47. This will help statistical organizations to describe and manage statistical information using a common language while, at a systems level, the information is represented and exchanged in an appropriate and standard technical format.
48. While GSIM information objects can be mapped to SDMX and DDI (and substantial business benefit can be obtained from harnessing these standards), GSIM does not require these standards to be used. Some producers and some users of statistics may decide to use alternative standards for particular purposes. In other cases, producers of statistics may be open to using SDMX and/or DDI but have legacy information systems which are not economical to update for use with these standards.
49. Describing statistical information using GSIM as the common point of reference helps users identify the relationship between two sets of statistical information which are represented differently from a technical perspective.
50. For example, a statistician may receive some data described in DDI and some described in a locally created format. The statistician can relate both of these to GSIM. The statistician will be able identify which differences are purely technical and which reflect underlying conceptual differences.
51. Once the nature and extent of the differences can be understood, it often proves straightforward to transform the information into a common technical representation (for example, SDMX or DDI) which allows the content to be integrated and explored. This approach ensures that the results of the technical conversion to a common standard are accurately understood, and are sound, from a conceptual perspective.
52. There are a number of synergies between use of GSIM as a reference framework and the application of representation standards such as SDMX and DDI. These synergies have been maximised by design.
53. For example, when determining the set of definitions to be used for information objects within GSIM, existing standards and models were harnessed as key reference sources. While none of these existing sources had the same purpose and scope as GSIM – that is a reference framework of information objects spanning the full statistical production process – the development of each entailed analysing and supporting particular needs and scenarios related to particular types of statistical data and metadata.
54. In this way GSIM benefited from the investment of time in analysis, modelling, testing and refinement when developing these standards and models to their current level of maturity. It also means GSIM does not vary "for no reason" from terms and definitions which are used in existing standards and models. Where it does vary it is for reasons such as existing relevant standards and models being inconsistent internally, with one another and/or statisticians reporting that alternative terms or definitions are more relevant to their business needs. A direct consequence of this was the revision of the Neuchâtel Model for Classifications, to fully align and integrate it with GSIM.
55. This paper introduces GSIM to people working in statistical organisations. It outlines the benefits of the model as well as how the adoption of the model might impact staff in statistical organisations. The paper also discusses the interaction of GSIM and other frameworks and standards such as GSBPM, DDI and SDMX.
56. For more detailed information on the information objects in GSIM, their definitions, attributes and relations, the GSIM Specification document provides a fine level detail and also discusses the relationship between GSIM and other standards and models. The GSIM wiki page 6 also includes links to information about practical implementations, and other resources that might be useful to organisations adopting GSIM as a corporate standard.
- See: www1.unece.org/stat/platform/display/hlgbas ↩
- See: http://www1.unece.org/stat/platform/display/CSPA ↩
- See: http://www1.unece.org/stat/platform/display/metis/Generic+Statistical+Information+Model+(GSIM) ↩
- See: www.unece.org/stats/gsbpm ↩
- http://www1.unece.org/stat/platform/display/metis/The+Common+Metadata+Framework ↩
- http://www1.unece.org/stat/platform/display/metis/Generic+Statistical+Information+Model ↩

subset: commoncrawl


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Stefan Struve Back TrainingStefan Struve is the luckiest unlucky fighter in the UFC.
Article Added: 2013-11-24
30-in-30: New York Rangers: Andrew Gross
What's new in New York? New coaching staff, injured defensemen and no contract for Derek Steppan.Article Added: 2013-09-11
LA/New York Non-Sport Breakdown
This is a comparison between New York and LA.Article Added: 2014-06-04
Just hours after appearing on live TV and patching up his torn relationship with his former and current employer, Jim Hellwig has died.Article Added: 2014-04-08
This looks pretty good!Article Added: 2014-05-14
Dog the Bounty Hunter is looking to take out an MMA fighter.Article Added: 2014-08-13


text: Key Features of Argus® II The Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System ("Argus II") is the world's first FDA approved device intended to restore some functional vision for people living with blindness due to severe to profound retinitis pigmentosa. Moreover, it offers the following benefits: Most clinical experience of any retinal prosthesis ever developed Improvements in ability to perform visual tasks demonstrated in many patients Upgradable external hardware and software to benefit from future innovations Minimal time from implantation to first system use and use at home Implant is MR conditional (VPU and glasses are MR unsafe and should not be worn inside an MR system room) Video processor with adjustable settings for individual preferences, for example: Edge enhancement Contrast enhancement 20° maximum possible field of view Can be compared to a 30 cm ruler held out at arm's length Audible signals that provide information on system functionality HUMANITARIAN DEVICE: Authorized by Federal (U.S.) law to provide electrical stimulation of the retina to induce visual perception in blind patients with severe to profound retinitis pigmentosa and bare light or no light perception in both eyes. The effectiveness of this device for this use has not been demonstrated.


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CA Workload Automation DE helps simplify cross-enterprise workload automation with a single platform designed to be easy to use, install and manage. You can define, monitor and schedule event-driven workload automation tasks across enterprise applications and platforms which can reduce the need for scripts, disparate tools and manual processes.
CA Workload Automation DE uses built-in forecasting and simulation to anticipate and support informed decisions to resolve potential issues. Event triggers, alerts and dynamic path management can help your team remain in control of critical application workloads and vital business services.
Implementation Services offer a comprehensive, proven approach to reduce project complexity with a carefully managed and phased implementation.
Multiple user groups place demands on critical business systems and require timely responses and dependability. Most of these transaction demands traverse multiple systems while collecting data from multiple sources. Managing these and other interdependencies at an enterprise level makes it difficult to coordinate business processes end-to-end. This makes issue analysis and resolution difficult and time-consuming. Many IT organizations are rethinking how processes and jobs are managed and are moving toward real-time business workload automation to keep pace with demand.
Job scheduling once represented a viable way to manage critical data center functions, however many enterprises have evolved past the point where scheduling simple tasks on a single platform at a specific time and date is adequate. Organizations are now challenged to:
CA Workload Automation DE provides a central point of visibility and control to help manage production workloads effectively. CA Workload Automation DE is distinguished by its broad platform coverage, event-based architecture, intelligent resource management, flexible configuration, extensive automation options, and ease of use. This solution enables organizations to use business policies and SLAs as the key drivers for workload priorities.
CA Workload Automation DE exposes workload functions and job flows as services to business applications which supports the management of high volumes of complex, business-critical workloads across your enterprise. Advanced functions for workload prioritization and load balancing help align workloads and resources to meet real-time business demands.
Help your team remain in control of critical application workloads and vital business services by implementing a powerful solution that has fewer moving parts, less complexity and that can reduce the product footprint while maximizing throughput.
CA Workload Automation DE Foundation Services are designed to implement and configure the base functionality. Foundation Services can address multiple deployment scenarios including the upgrade of existing deployments. The Foundation Services and capabilities are supported by:
Acceleration Services enable you to add functionality to a foundation implementation that can extend the value of your solution.
Third-Party Agent Integration Acceleration Service
Improve end-to-end management of enterprise workloads by integrating with ERP systems and application automation agents. CA Workload Automation DE also enables you to integration with application modernization and migration, as well as the following data integration tools:
– CA Workload Automation Agent for SAP
– CA Workload Automation Agent for Oracle E-Business Suite
– CA Workload Automation Agent for PeopleSoft
– CA Workload Automation Agent for Application, Services and Web Services
– CA Workload Automation Agent for Databases
– CA Workload Automation Agent for Micro Focus
– CA Workload Automation Agent for Remote Execution
– CA Workload Automation Agent for SQL Server
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King Robert is King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm. Along with his closest friend Eddard Stark and their foster father Jon Arryn, Robert Baratheon led the rebellion that toppled the Targaryen dynasty after the Mad King, Aerys, began a reign of terror and his son, Prince Rhaegar, abducted his betrothed, Eddard's sister Lyanna. Giving up his seat as Lord of Storm's End—one of the great magnates of the realm—to his youngest brother Renly, he assumed the crown and named his brother Stannis as Lord of Dragonstone, the ancestral Targaryen seat, which has proven a bone of contention between them.
A mighty warrior in his youth, huge and powerfully built, in the last years Robert has gone to fat, eating and drinking too much.
Robert was convinced to marry Lord Tywin's daughter, Cersei Lannister, making her queen. She has given him three children, but their relationship is a cold and unloving one. He remains a lusty man, however, and is a notorious whoremonger, with a dozen or more bastards to his discredit. He remains a boisterous lover of drink, generous to a fault, and entirely unsuited to ruling the Seven Kingdoms.
According to reports, the character has been aged upwards from thirty-five to his forties. The actor cast in the role, Mark Addy, is notably shorter (8"+) than the character as described in the novels, who is said to be 6'6" tall, but it's unclear whether cinematic methods will be used to make him seem taller.


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"In a place far away from anyone or anywhere, I drifted off for a moment." Haruki Murakami, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.
Have only recently discovered Nicolas Jaar and been drifting away to his music and also his collaborations with Nikita Quasim and Soul Keita under his label Clown And Sunset. This is their compilation, Inés. I have also been losing myself in the wonderful world of Haruki Murakami. After seeing the beautifully shot Norwegian Wood, I wanted to immerse myself in some wonderful fiction and I have found the perfect book in The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.


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Fellmann (Fellman) family
Fellmann (Fellman) was a Mennonite family of Swiss origin, which became numerous in the South German Mennonite congregations. Concerning the family in Switzerland no particulars are as yet known. The Palatine lists of Mennonites in the archives at Karlsruhe first name a Fellmann in 1717; Melchior Fellmann, living in Bruchhausen near Heidelberg, and a Jakob Fellmann in Rohrhof near Heidelberg. The [[Amsterdam Mennonite Library (Bibliotheek en Archief van de Vereenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente te Amsterdam)|Mennonite archives of Amsterdam]] contain a family list of 1731, which gives the same information (but says Rohrhof near Mannheim). The Fellmanns are named as preachers of the Mennonite congregation of Bruchhausen. At this place there was also a Hans Fellmann, a member of the congregation at Eckerhof near Wiesloch. The later Mennonite lists of the Baden archives of 1738, 1743, 1752, and 1759 contain additional references to Fellmann families in this area. The Mennonitisches Adressbuch of 1936 (Karlsruhe) gives a complete oversight of the modern status of the family (residence, vocation, members of families), which is found principally in Baden, Württemberg, and Bavaria. Walter Fellmann is a retired minister who served the Monsheim congregation.
|Walter Fellmann
|Date Published
Cite This Article
MLA style
Fellmann, Walter. "Fellmann (Fellman) family." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1956. Web. 23 Sep 2019. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Fellmann_(Fellman)_family&oldid=119549.
APA style
Fellmann, Walter. (1956). Fellmann (Fellman) family. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 23 September 2019, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Fellmann_(Fellman)_family&oldid=119549.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 321. All rights reserved.
©1996-2019 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.


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Subscribe To Jennifer Lawrence And Bradley Cooper Reunite In New 'Serena' Images Updates
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It's pretty hard to argue against the success that Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence have had together. The acting duo first came together as an odd-ball romantic pairing in David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook (a performance that won Lawrence the Best Actress Oscar at the Academy Awards), but just last year they reunited when Russell hired them to play characters on opposite sides of the same story in the period comedic thriller American Hustle. That's two films in two years, but perhaps what's most amazing is that a third is already on the way. Director Sussane Bier's dark drama Serena will once again bring Cooper and Lawrence back together on screen, and while we still don't know exactly when we will get to see the movie, at the very least today The Film Stage has delivered a while bunch of new stills.
Admittedly these perhaps aren't the most exciting images you'll see all day, the shots will definitely give you a sense of Serena's aesthetic and period. The movie is based on the 2008 book by Ron Rash and stars the leading actors as George and Serena Pemberton, ambitious newlyweds who move to North Carolina in 1929 in hopes of finding success. Together they open a timber business, and will do anything to make it grow. Things start to get horrible when Serena discovers that she is unable to have children of her own, and winds up taking it out on her husband's illegitimate son. While they don't appear in the new images, the film also stars Rhys Ifans, Toby Jones and Sean Harris.
As mentioned earlier, we sadly still have no idea when the movie will actually be arriving here in the United States. Serena didn't play at either Sundance or SXSW - though it's possible it could end up at Cannes, Toronto or Venice before being released some time in the Fall. There is no North American distributor set up yet, though it does have some European release dates planned starting in June).
It may be a while before we get to see Serena for ourselves, so in the meantime let's just enjoy Cooper and Lawrence's previous work together:


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Global Carbon Finance: A quantitative modelling framework to explore scenarios of the Global Deal on Climate Change
Description: According to the abstract, the purpose of this paper is to provide a quantitative research methodology for analyzing the costs of dealing with climate change.
Date: April 2009
Creator: Great Britain. Office of Climate Change
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That Special Someone
After kidnapping the mob boss's daughter, you'll receive a call from your unknown contact at United Liberty Paper. It appears he's emancipating you from working with him, and in return he begins to give you some information on the person Niko is looking for. After speaking with him, you'll receive a phone call from Niko's cousin, Roman (it's been a while, hasn't it?) Roman tells you not to undertake this mission on your own, and he tells you to come get him. However, since you're likely still in Alderney, you're going to have to go clear across the city, to Broker. You can find Roman standing on Crockett Avenue, at the far south end of the borough. Pick him up to proceed with this mission.
Once Roman is in Niko's vehicle, all you have to do is drive southward and eastward to Francis International Airport. En route, Niko and Roman will have a deep conversation about what they think is about to happen, since the decade long hunt Niko has been on is about to conclude before your very eyes.
When you arrive at the airport, a mysterious van will pull up adjacent to Roman and Niko and dump out the man Niko is looking for, a guy named Darko. The story is intriguing, as Darko, Niko, Roman and Bernie are all interconnected in a historical way relevant to them all. We won't spoil the story for you here, but needless to say this is a long and drawn-out cutscene that requires your careful attention. Once you gain control at the end of the cutscene, you'll then be given a choice. You can either off Darko, or you can let him live. Regardless of what choice you make, the story won't change much, just some conversations that occur right after the mission concludes, and later on in the game. If you want to know what we did, well, we let him live. He's just a junky, after all.
Regardless of the choice you end up making, whether or not Darko lives or dies, you'll have to get into a vehicle and leave the airport eventually. When you do, Roman will ask Niko to drop him off at Brucie's, so do just that. En route, Roman and Niko will have a discussion largely contingent on the choice you just made in regard to the fate of Darko. When you ultimately arrive at Brucie's (which is, if you've forgotten, located where Mohanet Avenue and Creek Street run into each other near the Broker-Dukes border), Roman will get out, reminding you that his wedding to Mallorie is fast approaching.
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|System: Wii, PS2, PSP
|Review Rating Legend
|Dev: Terminal Reality / SNK
|1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
|4.0 - 4.4 = Great
|Pub: SNK Playmore
|2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
|4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
|Release: March 24, 2009
|2.5 - 2.9 = Average
|5.0 = The Best
|Players: 1-2
|3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
|ESRB Rating: Teen
|3.5 - 3.9 = Good
Samurai Shodown IV reverts back to the brighter and more cartoonish look of the original two, now featuring all characters from SSIII with the addition of ninja brothers Kazma Kazuki and Kazma Sogetsu. It also features several changes in gameplay with more intricate combos, elaborate finishers, and the infamous suicide move to take one's own life in order to start with a full power bar in the next round. Unfortunately, Showdown IV is also where players may begin to notice slowdown in framerate and lag in movements, skewing the precise timing and rhythm critically needed to be successful.
Samurai Shodown V serves as a prequel to the original title in the series, with the addition of new characters and more changes in gameplay. The Slash and Burst system is gone, and players are given a more extensive defensive system that allows them to dodge attacks much quicker. Unfortunately, as the Samurai Shodown Anthology gets progressively faster, slowdown issues on this re-release seem to occur more frequently, making winning frustratingly difficult and time-consuming. The sixth and final Showdown features a total of 41 characters with an incredible catalog that spans the entire series plus new ones including Andrew, Iroha, Sugoroku Matsuribayashi, and Karakuri Ocha-Maro. With an incredible list of characters on this final Shodown title and noticeably improved graphics over its predecessors, SSVI is among the most enjoyable installments of the entire series.
What Anthology does well is present how the game progresses throughout the years. The alterations of character designs and game mechanics are all here, for better or for worse, as they appeared in the original releases. The game's classic Kung-Fu soundtrack is actually one of the most appealing factors, if not stressfully repetitive when playing for hours on end. Visually, the signature two-dimensional graphics and use of camera-zooming while in the midst of a battle are a testament to the times each game was created, though it can also be straining on the eyes with time. It is unfortunate that the game suffers from obvious slowdown, especially with such dated-looking graphics, throwing rhythm off balance and interfering with the timing so desperately needed to win. Even though it's old, the Samurai Shodown series is not for the inexperienced gamer.
When updating interfaces and control schemes to work on newer consoles, the appeal of re-releases such as this can sometimes become lost in translation, as games often just don't run smoothly or become tacked-on with useless extras. While issues with framerate occur, it's not common enough to ruin the experience of playing through this historic and sometimes unnecessarily overlooked game series. Those who have been longing to complete their Samurai Shodown collection and its cast of legendary characters should pick this one up.
Pete Richards
CCC Freelance Writer
Game Features:


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Historically, architects have held responsibility for completing the architectural interior of buildings, although artisans, craftsmen, furniture makers and — more recently — interior decorators have played a role. Beginning in the mid-1900s, the idea of the speculative building and a shift from corporate ownership to leasing began to separate the design of the building from the design of its interior. Urban cores have aged, prompting the need for interior renovation of still viable building shells. More importantly, an increasing complexity associated with the building interior — in workplace, healthcare, institutional and other types of environments — required an increased expertise and an increased level of specialization in professional services. This trend toward specialization continues,
Home » Modern house interior designs ideas. » Modern house interior designs ideas.


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Sister's death drives Lujan Grisham
Michelle Lujan Grisham's sister Kimberly was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was 2 years old. She quickly exhausted her lifetime caps on her health insurance.
Their parents spent every additional dollar they had on Kimberly's medical care. But she died when she was 21, and Lujan Grisham's parents spent decades after Kimberly's death tapping every resource they had to pay off the debt.
Story Continued Below
( Also on POLITICO: Michelle Lujan Grisham's fact sheet)
Lujan Grisham knew she wanted to dedicate her life to the cause of improving access to affordable health care — a calling that ultimately propelled the New Mexican to Capitol Hill. As she heads to the House, she's not just a health reform advocate, she's become an emblem of the changing face of House Democrats, who this year have the first caucus in congressional history in which the majority of its members are women or minorities.
"We're implementing the Affordable Care Act. We're debating what it means in the future," Lujan Grisham said in a recent interview. "These are opportunities for me to make a real, continued difference in the lives of the families not only in my district but across the country."
( See also: POLITICO's guide to the 113th Congress)
Her roots in health care run deep. She led the New Mexico State Agency on Aging — a job that required her to go undercover at nursing homes to investigate patient abuse. In 2004, Lujan Grisham began serving as the secretary of the New Mexico Department of Health, and she now runs a health insurance consulting firm.
"We can do better having an effective health care policy," said Lujan Grisham, 53. "And it saves us money."
It's no surprise that access to health care will be a top focus in Washington for Lujan Grisham, who wasn't afraid to tout the benefits of the ACA during her campaign against Republican Janice Arnold-Jones. Lujan Grisham defeated Arnold-Jones 59 percent to 41 percent on Nov. 6 after emerging from a bruising three-way Democratic primary earlier in the year. The Albuquerque-based district was left vacant by Democratic Rep. Martin Heinrich, who ran for Senate.


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Buying apartments is probably one of the major decisions one has to make in his lifetime. Having a premium place to live is definitely the dream of every one and people do everything possible to get the best abode for themselves and for their family. But when choosing an apartment, one needs to go through a proper thought process and make sure that he selects the apartment that is best for him and suits his lifestyle in every way possible.
Here are some of the major facilities one needs to consider when buying apartments in El Paso Texas.
First of all you need to consider that whether Sq. Ft. of your apartment that you plan to buy will accommodate all your family at present as well as in future. Before you finalize your decision of buying any apartment, this is the important consideration you have to make. It shouldn't be decided by the current count of your family, but the future one.
Before moving into any particular apartment, you just need to casually visit your potential new apartment and enquire your 'to be' neighbors about any kind of problems that may be there for the residents of the building. It will allow you to have a clear idea about what living in that apartment building is all about.
Resale value of the apartment is another thing that should be given a careful thought before you buy an apartment for you. The apartment you should invest in needs to have good return in future for you. This can be evaluated by calculating apartment's resale value after few years.
In case if the apartment is not located on ground floor or the first floor then it should be ensured that you are buying an apartment in the apartment building with proper lift facility along with the backup generators that take control in case of any power failures.
Availability of car parking is yet another thing to consider before you buy an apartment. If there is a parking facility available then you should check whether it's covered with a roof and that if it's specific place or some common area. Quite often than not, common areas can be a bit of problem and hence it is always advisable that you should go for apartment with specified car parking available for you. There are some apartments where car parking has to be paid for separately while there are others where you can have it for free.
Make sure that you do not forget checking the water supply in the area as well as in the apartment building you are going to choose.
If hospitals, school and gym facilities are available near the apartment you are going to buy then it will be quite easy for you to attend someone sick, take the children to school and have a workout at your gym without travelling too much.


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SACRAMENTO -- Marcus Thornton had 25 points, Toney Douglas scored 17 of his 19 in the fourth quarter and the Sacramento Kings rallied from eight down in the final 11 minutes to stun the Los Angeles Clippers 116-101 on Tuesday night.
DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans added 17 points apiece for the Kings, who beat the Pacific Division-leading Clippers for the first time in more than two years.
They did it behind a stellar effort off the bench from Thornton and a smothering defense that held Los Angeles to just five buckets in the final quarter.
Blake Griffin had three of them and finished with 26 points, four rebounds and five assists for the Clippers. Los Angeles has lost four of its last seven.
Thornton went 7 of 14 from the floor and made six 3s but it was Douglas, the midseason acquisition from Houston, who came up biggest for Sacramento. He made three straight 3s after the Clippers pulled within 98-96 then added four free throws in the final 1:30 to help seal the win.
Cousins, who missed the past two games with a bruised left quad, also gave the Kings a spark despite playing in foul trouble most of the game. The emotional Cousins helped hold Los Angeles center DeAndre Jordan to 11 points, and finished with 11 rebounds for his 29th double-double of the season.
It's the Kings' first win over the Clippers since Feb. 28, 2011 and one that will definitely sting Los Angeles.
The Clippers went into the game third in the Western Conference but are losing their grip a bit after losing for the fourth time in their last seven games.
It didn't help coach Vinny Del Negro's team when they lost starting guard Chauncey Billups to a groin injury in the first quarter, but Los Angeles was still up 86-78 following Jamal Crawford's fifth 3 of the night.
That's when Sacramento responded with a 13-0 run ignited by eight points from Evans.
Thornton later made a 3-pointer to put the Kings up 94-89 then Sacramento withheld one final push by the Clippers until Douglas' late scoring barrage.
Griffin helped the Clippers get off to a fast start. He had eight points in the first quarter, including a two-handed jam that capped an 11-2 run and put Los Angeles up 21-15. Griffin also had an assist on Jordan's alley-oop dunk during the run.
Sacramento tied the game on Isaiah Thomas' layup with 0.2 seconds remaining in the quarter before Griffin opened the second with another thunderous throw down, this time on an alley-oop pass from Matt Barnes.
Crawford later scored eight straight points for Los Angeles before Sacramento made four consecutive 3s and Cole Aldrich followed up Jimmer Fredette's miss to give the Kings a 45-41 lead.
The Clippers regained the advantage despite losing Billups but Cousins returned after resting most of the period and scored on consecutive trips down the court to put Sacramento ahead 56-54 at halftime.
Los Angeles regained the lead in the third and went up 86-78 following Crawford's 3-pointer early in the fourth before Evans sparked Sacramento's big run to put the Kings ahead.
Notes: Sacramento forward Jason Thompson had to be taken to the locker room after suffering a cut over his right eye following a collision with Jordan. Blood streamed from Thompson's face and the game was halted briefly while he was escorted off the court.


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Guest Post: Zeke Zelker: DIY Days NYC: You Missed An Incredible Gathering Of Incredible People/
Why does it still feel amazing that a whole group of people come together to share knowledge, organize that gathering, and take the resulting inspiration out into the world -- and that they do it for free? That question is worthy of a future post, but for now we are here to celebrate DIY DAYS, the event that we must now ordain as a necessary institution. I was a keynote speaker last year. This year Christine Vachon and I discussed our past and hopes for the future. Earlier I ran a post on Chuck Wendig's presentation he did this year on "Where Storytelling & Gaming Collide" . Today we are happy to offer you Zeke Zelker's overview of the event, which at the very least should make sure you plan on joining us next year. Check it out. I promise you will leave wiser and inspired.
It is always exciting going to DIY Days, It's like main lining a shot of learn-to-know-how adrenaline straight to the heart. There were many things that I took away from last week's conference, many of which we will be implementing for WTYT960.com as we push out the site. WTYT960.com is a virtual radio station where bands submit their music to be a part of the playlist, the playlist is created by fan interaction on social media sites and votes.
A couple of highlights from DIY Days that still resonate. Newman's tell it like it is approach to reclaiming DIY, I just sewed new patches on my britches and am rolling up my sleeves, getting down and dirty with making stuff. Hope and Vachon's fireside chat on their amazingly prolific careers as the top indie producers, that's right, each of them have produced 70 films. That's absolutely amazing. Johnson's chat about NFC technology that I feel will be another outlet for filmmakers to further expand their storyscape. Weiler's review of Pandemic 1.0 that we produced at this past year's Sundance. Chirls introduction of html 5, I'm still wrapping my head around the possibilities of this new programming tool and Clark's discussion on how he has worked with brands in the past, this opportunity needs to be explored further. There were many others who presented and their insight was worth much more than the price of admission.
The only thing I wish is that more presenters would have been more straight forward on how they do/did things not what they did. I think this would be extremely valuable to those who attend these types of conferences.
When it was my turn with Vlad, who has a really great project, Zenith, it was interesting to see people's reactions as we discussed our transmedia projects, Vlad's is wrapping up, mine is just getting started. I take the capitalist money making approach to my filmmaking efforts, where I always encounter push back from the indie film/DIY community. I never understand this. This is show Business people, with a capital B, which is a true balance of art and commerce. Shouldn't we all take more of a money making approach to our filmmaking? It is truly empowering. Instead of playing the "I hope I can sell my film for big bucks at a festival that I hope I can get into lottery." Shouldn't we be more fiscally responsible to our funders? Really. I fund my projects by whatever means possible. Right now I am raising equity, seeking donations, and forging brand partnerships.
I believe that the story telling experience can be augmented for the better with brand interaction. Brands can enable artists to further their storyscape, something that I'm doing with Billboard an Uncommon Contest for Common People! as well as my next three projects. I like giving a big fat hug to responsible corporate brands who can help me further tell my story. We all have those products we love, why not make them a part of, and a device in, the story telling experience? For instance I love my Radius toothbrush, a company with ergonomically correct handles made out of recycled material. Right now I'm brushing my pearly whites with a handle made from recycled U.S. currency. Just living the dream! The company is also from my hometown and these types of things excite me. A great product from my hometown that I've partnered with to help tell a story. You can't get any better than that. How does a toothbrush support a story? Just wait. You'll see.
Newman http://springboardmedia.blogspot.com/ Johnson www.kineticfin.com/ - Hope now here on IndieWire. Archives at http://hopeforfilm.com Vachon http://www.killerfilms.com/ Weiler http://lanceweiler.com/ Chirls http://chirls.com/ Zenith zeniththefilm.com/ Radius http://www.radiustoothbrush.com/
- Zeke Zelker
Zeke Zelker, filmmaker/entrepreneur, has embarked on his latest transmedia project, Billboard an Uncommon Contest for Common People! a story that transcends various medias as it empowers various artists to be a part of the story telling experience.
PS. If you need a bigger fix, before the DIY DAYS NYC event, way back in 2008, Lance Weiler hosted a DIY DAYS DINNER. I was there and we had the camera running. Check it out here.


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Two months ago it was stated in this space that the heated Oct. 25 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners was a sad display for local government.
Two months ago it was stated in this space that the heated Oct. 25 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners was a sad display for local government.
Read through the investigative file pertaining to the alleged extortion by a local political action committee, the fuel for that Oct. 25 heated discussion, and the Oct. 25 meeting becomes even sadder.
During that meeting the public learned for the first time of a State Attorney investigation into allegations of extortion against Citizens Improving Gulf County.
Not from a commissioner or the county sheriff, but from a public citizen who talked of speaking with investigators on �three or four� occasions and pointedly questioned why several others in the community had failed to speak to investigators when asked.
Of those names mentioned at the podium by Christine McElroy only that of PAC president Jim Garth is mentioned by investigators in the file.
Apparently, even though investigators documented interviews with BOCC chair Bill Williams and county administrator Don Butler, no other document in that file indicates that investigators talked to anyone beyond themselves.
No written reports, no recordings, no notations; nothing.
How does a private citizen have information about an investigation that does not appear in the official file?
Yet this presentation, having nothing to do with county business, fueled 20 minutes of badgering and allegations from the podium by county commissioners, with Williams pronouncing he had worn a wire and using the term �blackmail� at least five times.
That transcribed and recorded conversation, by the by, should be a required civics lesson. It is a cynical, profane and calculating conversation about government from an experienced politician.
It is eye-opening.
It also includes the only reference to McElroy, and not in the most positive light.
Nonetheless, the major component of that file is a transcription and CD of a recorded conversation between Williams and St. Joe Beach resident Tom Graney, a political adviser and personal friend.
Investigators� later interview with Graney is not even noted in the file made public.
Most astounding about that Oct. 25 meeting is that the taped conversation occurred four months earlier, nearly to the day, of that BOCC meeting.
That recorded conversation was the climax to a rapid series of conversations and affidavits � so rapid that Williams bent time, documenting for investigators by affidavit a phone conversation with Graney that sparked the brouhaha and signed it on the same day the call took place and four days before the investigation was launched.
Try investigating that timeline.
More saddening still is that the investigation had already been closed with no charges.
State Attorney Glenn Hess did so on Oct. 16, nine days prior to the Oct. 25 meeting, without disseminating any information to the public about the investigation.
Therefore, none of this, none of these allegations or assertions or whatever adjective you wish to toss out about that Oct. 25 display, would have seen light if not for a 20-minute stretch of BOCC time devoted to axe-grinding.
That the second half of this display was a screed against a candidate for the BOCC, close to election day, during which Williams championed that candidate losing, forcing the BOCC to alter the canvassing board at the behest of the head judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit due to a clear conflict, makes the episode sadder still.
And that Oct. 25 meeting essentially closed the extortion file to the public, with only those accusations from that bruising 20 minutes in the air.
What was already a public record became a non-public record after the meeting because, according to the file, the investigation was reopened to revisit various aspects of the case � the PIO called it �new information� - due to a number of �phone calls� after the �heated discussion� of the meeting.
That new information was limited to one person, Garth, and represented a legal issue going back some 40 years that as Garth has stated was, to his understanding, long-ago resolved.
It had nothing to do with the extortion case and was known to investigators, according to the file, when Hess closed the case in October. Garth and any voter qualification issue were not mentioned Oct. 16.
So, there is a fair conclusion to draw about what was involved - politics, with a twist.
Maybe there are those who do not think sending a letter or conveying a message to a county commissioner requesting they step aside due to a conflict of interest found in state law � and which is the subject of an ongoing state Ethics Commission probe � is not appropriate.
But neither is using taxpayer time and money to the same ends, as the Oct. 25 meeting, in hindsight, was as much about �dirty politics� as anything the PAC did and the timing and results support that conclusion.
Any doubt, go to the tape.
Oct. 25.
Regular meeting.
Board of County Commissioners.
The following is a statement provided by Graney, who was the nexus for much of what transpired.
�Having the read the file which appears to me incomplete and misleading, I am pleased Mr. Hess has finally come to the obvious conclusion that the rights of citizens to organize, petition their government, exercise their right to free speech, and campaign to hold their elected leaders responsible for their actions is not a criminal offense.
�I hope now that the State Attorney�s Office will quietly spend some internal time examining how it was duped or influenced into wasting time and resources on silly, trumped up, self-serving charges. Let�s see, five months of taxpayer-funded effort and resources wasted, in a clear politically-motivated �witch hunt� intended to intimidate those same taxpaying citizens to stop them from exercising their First Amendment rights.
�Wow � is that confusing, inept, silly, Keystone Kops, ya think?�


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CLAREMONT, Calif. – After a tough season opener, the 16th ranked Beacons (1-3) managed to battle back on the second day of the Pacific Coast Classic to earn their first win of the year, a 3-2 victory over Minnesota-Morris in game one, but unfortunately that momentum could not carry over into the final match as they were defeated by North Central College (IL) by the final of 3-0 Saturday afternoon at Pomona Pitzer College.
Against Minnesota-Morris the Beacons earned the game one win with a 25-19 decision. They nearly took game two, but it was Minnesota-Morris who pulled out the 27-25 victory. Minnesota then recorded a 25-20 game three win to take a 2-1 lead over UMass. The Beacons down but not out rallied in game four with a 25-20 win and held off Minnesota in game five to earn a 15-10 and 3-2 victory to improve to 1-2 on the year.
In the nightcap it was all North Central in two of the three games as they defeated the Beacons 25-16 in game one and 25-18 in game three. The second game proved to be a back-and-forth battled until the end, with North Central stealing the 28-26 decision.
Senior Shannon Thompson (Moorpark, Calif.) proved to be the driving force against Minnesota as she scored a match-high 20 kills on 46 attempts for .283 attack percentage. Thompson was also solid at the net as she tallied two solo blocks and six block assists. In total the Beacons combined for 17 blocks in the match. Molly Witzmann (Encinitas, Calif.) was also solid with her seven kills, two solo blocks, and five block assists.
Setters Emma Rocha (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and Megan Pollock (Wilton, Calif.) combined for 45 assists respectively, with Rocha tallying eight digs. Senior libero Kayla Wilson (San Jose, Calif.) led the contest with 17 digs, followed by Thompson with 11. Combined UMass tallied a total of 12 aces.
In game two it was Brooke Nemethy (Oviedo, Fla.) who led the Beacons with 13 kills, followed by Thompson with eight. Rocha and Pollock tallied 30 assists, while Pollock recorded a team-best two aces. Wilson totaled 20 digs, followed by Corrine Porter (Huntington Beach, Calif.) with 11.
Volleyball returns to action next Friday when they take on Middlebury College at 5 p.m. as part of the Endicott College Invitational in Beverly, Mass.


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Collections Online
GOP campaign mugs of Richard M. Nixon and Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.
To order an image, navigate to the full
display and click "request this image"
on the blue toolbar.
Choose an alternate description of this item written for these projects:
- MHS 225th Anniversary
Nixon and Lodge in 1960
Forty-four years ago, Massachusetts was represented on both the Republican and Democratic presidential tickets. These porcelain mugs depicting Richard M. Nixon and Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (of Massachusetts) date from the 1960 election, in which Nixon and Lodge were defeated by John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts, and his running mate Lyndon B. Johnson. Although the popular vote was close (out of nearly 69,000,000 votes cast, only 118,000 votes separated the two candidates), Kennedy and Johnson won the Electoral College vote 303 to 219.
The 1960 contest was the first in which television played a major (some might say, deciding) role. On 26 September 1960, more than 70,000,000 viewers tuned in to see the first-ever televised presidential debate. Perhaps, however, it was these mugs that influenced the result of the election. The handles are elephants' trunks, turned downward - a sure sign of bad luck. Richard B. Wigglesworth, the Massachusetts Republican who owned the mugs, died a few weeks before the election, never knowing the outcome.
Richard Bowditch Wigglesworth served Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives from 1928 to 1958. From 1959 until his death in 1960, he served as ambassador to Canada. Wigglesworth's family presented the Nixon and Lodge mugs to the MHS, along with a very large collection of his personal and political papers.
Political memorabilia at the MHS
While most of the political artifacts in the MHS collection are campaign buttons and bumper stickers, there are unusual pieces including a brass "Long live the President" button, dating from Washington's 1789 inauguration, a John Adams cuff-link, a cake of soap manufactured in 1840 for the Harrison/Tyler campaign, and ferrotype tokens from Abraham Lincoln's 1860 and 1864 campaigns. For the modern era there is an FDR necktie from 1940, a substantial collection of political ephemera for Leverett Saltonstall's long political career, and, in addition to the Nixon-Lodge mugs, a bronzed hot dog presented to Henry Cabot Lodge in 1960.
Whether you have a "Click with Dick" clicker from the 1960 election or political memorabilia or papers from any era, the Historical Society welcomes donations of historical materials from Republicans, Democrats, third-party members, and political independents alike.


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OCEAN CITY – Discussions over a business license fee for the town's flea market left the council divided this week, with several members agreeing that the flea market should be held accountable for the business license fee this year.
The flea market, held on Saturdays and Sundays, was held in the Worcester Street parking lot last summer, with proceeds from vendor fees dedicated to the Downtown Association.
In an effort to get the operation up and running, it was agreed to waive the business license fee for the first year.
The return of the flea market was highlighted as a means to get more foot traffic in the downtown area, but it was agreed last week to move the downtown-oriented flea market to the 65th Street Public Safety Building parking lot.
The problem with the Worcester Street lot was mainly time constraints, with vendors having only until 1 p.m. to make sales. Vendors needed to be out of the lot by 1 p.m., to free up parking spaces for beachgoers. With reluctance from a few council members and the mayor over the mid-town location, the council agreed to approve the move to 65th Street, in hopes of promoting downtown in the mid-town sector.
The flea market discussion continued this week however, with the request from Business License Inspector Rich Mason over whether to waive the business license fees again this year. The yearly fee is $114 or $8 a day.
"We're moving to a new location, we have no idea what that's going to produce," said Councilman Jim Hall, who requested that the council waive the business license fee for one more year to allow the flea market a chance to grow and thrive.
Mayor Rick Meehan pointed out the other merchants throughout town, who pay significant fees to be able to operate a business in Ocean City.
"I think that right from the beginning we should do things the right way. I really don't think this is a very big cost at all," he said.
"I agree with the mayor. We had this discussion last year – this is a very small fee to set up a booth to make money," said Council member Margaret Pillas.
"Sometimes free is not good," said Council member Mary Knight, agreeing that a fee should be enforced. "It's not, in my mind, fair not to charge something."
Hall explained that while organizers expect success at the new location, a few weeks would still be needed to secure vendors and get a steady flow of customers.
"At the very least, give us 'til the middle of the summer to try it," said Hall.
The council agreed to waive the license fee until July 1, at which point the standard fee will be enforced.


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The Downtown Runners and Walkers is the popular running/walking group. Each Tuesday - rain or shine - 20 to 40 people ranging in abilities from seasoned marathoners to beginning walkers meet at a different metro Detroit site. After route instructions, people take off on a course of four to eight miles. After the run or walk, everyone meets for food, drink and the most interesting conversations. Membership is free.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: September 1Pop Up Yoga Detroit
Later Event: September 2Run This Town


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Planning and management of social security finances
The DSS analyses the social security accounts, develops social security financial
projections and formulates and monitors the implementation of social
security scheme funding policy.
It manages revenues and expenditures in the social security system and
drafts and implements the Social Security Financing Acts (lois de financement
de la Sécurité sociale). In 2006 it took on responsibility for coordinating
the accounts certification system of the general scheme and in 2008 the
certification systems of the other statutory basic schemes.
Legal management and development of public policy
The DSS formulates public policy in the area of family benefits, health and
industrial injury insurance and pensions, and is responsible for social security
regulations as laid down in the French Social Security Code.
Direction of the operations of the social security institutions
The DSS directs the operations of France's social security institutions, which,
for the general scheme alone, comprise : the four national funds (CNAM
(health insurance fund), old-CNAV (age insurance fund) CNAF (family benefits
fund) and ACOSS (central agency for social security funds) ; 312 basicscheme
funds ; and UCANSS, the body handling tasks relevant to all four
national funds.
The DSS is responsible for negotiating and implementing the 17 national
agreements on management and objectives, which, since their introduction
in 1996, have brought a performance-oriented approach to social security
management. The Directorate also has a role in monitoring the complementary
social security schemes and the French mutual sector.
A role at EU and international level
The DSS is responsible for negotiating and administering France's commitments
at EU and international level in the area of social security (bilateral
agreements and coordination regulations). It is actively involved in the various
European bodies dealing with social security issues, its aims being to
contribute to the development of Social Europe and to showcase the benefits
of the French system.


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Of appreciating Robert Frost
The party at poet Robert Frost's summer home in Ripton a few weeks ago was a bad idea that spun out of control into deviant behavior. Many of those youths involved have recognized the seriousness of their crime, are apologetic and are seeking to do whatever it takes to repay society for their mistakes.In meting out justice through the court diversion process as well as through the criminal court process, the intent is clear: those involved must understand the gravity of their mistake and that their actions betrayed the community in which they live. Payment should come in the form of restitution for the damage done, but also in ways that seek to regain the community's trust.Suggestions have already included work at the Robert Frost farm to maintain the walking trail leading to the house. Such work could be extended to include the Robert Frost trail network less than a half-mile away. But while such work qualifies for community service, restoring the people's trust needs to come more from the heart.One idea that has bubbled up from the community is for the students to be asked to memorize and recite several of Frost's poems and complete a study of his life so each student learns to appreciate the works of the man whose summer home they violated. Perhaps then they will understand why so many people around the nation were so appalled by their disrespect, and, as importantly, learn to treasure his art and love it as millions do.


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Gadgets, netbooks, and price cuts were all big topics this week, especially with the back-to-school sales going on around the Web. Here's what you might have missed.
Intel launches new single, dual, and quad-core processors: Intel shipped new SKUs in each of these segments this week, although some are more attractive than others. The Q6600 is a part that just won't quit, and is now Intel's first quad-core to fall below the $200 mark, at just $189.99. Yorkdale—who needs it? There's also a new sub-$100 dual-core, and while it trades off cache and bus speed, it might be a good budget option.
Samsung X360 lighter than Air: Samsung's X360 was on display this week at IFA, and the company is playing up the fact that it's lighter than the MBA. Given the fact that the MBA weighs ~3 lbs while the Samsung weighs ~2.8 lbs, both companies seem to be straining at gnats.
Logitech introduces a backlit keyboard for the non-gamers: This one, I admit, I don't get. First of all, everyone should learn to type, so you don't need things like this anyway. But sure, I'll admit, sometimes we all have to hit a random key we don't use much, and then I'd be hunting around the board as much as anyone else. If you're using this in front of a computer or television, however, the backlight from either should provide more than enough light to see the keyboard by. My advice? Save $50, buy a cheap wireless keyboard, and get a nice lamp that sits near where you want it. If that's really too much, buy a clapper.
Samsung's OLED future: Ah, OLED TVs, how much we want you now. Samsung was showing off 14.1" and 31" OLED HDTV's this week, along with what the company calls Quadruple High Definition TV (QHDTV). Resolution on this baby is 3840x2160, which might still seem fuzzy if you combine it with the 82" QHTV the company was also showing off. Of course, anyone who comes in your house will know you're compensating, but that's a small price to pay for a vision of Aaron Eckhardt as Harvey Dent stretched nearly seven feet.
TiVo HD XL includes 1TB of storage: For $600, the new TiVo HD XL offers 1TB of storage, a backlit remote sigh, and full support for Dolby THX. It has also got a nifty black-and-silver enclosure.
Sony issues global recall on 440,000 VAIO notebooks: After the 2006/2007 battery recall incident, Sony declared it would take steps to prevent such a catastrophe from happening again, which explains why, in 2008, the company is recalling almost half a million notebooks. Why, you ask? Because they explode, due to battery failure. I readily admit to not knowing the first thing about laptop battery manufacturing, but it's rather obvious that whatever ya'll are doing, you're not doing it very well.
Dell introduces the Inspiron Mini 9: Yours is here....and it's very, very, small. Linux flavor is $349, while XP Home is $399 and $449 depending on what you want with it. Linux users, you pretty much get screwed—the $349 flavor has 4GB of SSD and 512MB of RAM, while the $449 edition has a 16GB drive and a full gig of RAM in it.
AMD processor prices plummet: You won't see these price cuts advertised on the company's web sites, but AMD has taken an axe to its prices. As a result, some of the company's products are now a much better deal, and are worth consideration for anyone planning to build a new system.
Microsoft eases restrictions on XP use for netbooks: MS has apparently resigned itself to the fact that Vista is more of a resource pig than some are willing to put up with, and will allow manufacturers to combine XP with higher-specced machines. Previously, in order to buy XP, your netbook had to have a screen no larger than 10.2" and just 80GB of storage. Now, systems can offer 14.1" monitors and 160GB of hard drive space.
Sylvania G: Epic Fail: It's a netbook from people who make lightbulbs. Does this even sound like a good idea?
Chinese CBHD movies format gets no love from Hollywood: In the "stunning development" category comes news that
Hollywood, fresh off one major format war, isn't interested in supporting the CBHD movie format. Nice try, guys, but there
were a few fatal flaws in the plan.